"One of the aims of modern systematics is to bundle groups and units in systematic categories in a manner that reflect natural units in an evolutionary sense. The unfortunate part in the quest is that there is usually too little information available, and the existing data can often be interpreted differently or is excessively generalized. It is therefore not uncommon that the addition of newly available traits, or simply a reevaluation of known ones, for example, leads to the abandonment of the established generic name. The same applies to the names of species, families and so forth." (Poison Frogs, etc., pg. 37-38) There follows a very long explanation of why each reclassification was done, based on multiple criteria, including molecular studies in some instances, a tree-based DNA taxonomy on those that have been tested. We're probably going to see other changes as this is completed.



As far as varieties or what we often call "color morphs" within a species, they do give a list of common vernacular names of local varieties of Dendrobates tinctorius and their probable origin, but state: "Some of the varieties are possible crossbreeds produced in captivity. Names are of no scientific relevance as they do not conform to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and cannot really be defined."



So what we call azureus is now simply a different color morph of the tinctorius from a specific area, and would still be subject to our own ethical rules of attempting to keep these as distinct as possible with our captive breeding.



In the long run it does seem to have sorted out many with distinguishing features, such as the obligate egg layers from the thumbnails under two different genera, for example. I suppose we can get used to it. Even prior to the publication of the changes, most dart specialists already considered azureus as a morph of tinctorius.
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Patty

Pahsimeroi, Idaho



Dendrobates: auratus blue, auratus Ancon Hill, tinctorius azureus, leucomelas. Phyllobates: vittatus, terribilis, lugubris. Epipedobates: anthonyi tricolor pasaje. Ranitomeya fantastica, imitator, reticulata. Adelphobates castaneoticus, galactonotus. Oophagia pumilio Bastimentos. (updated systematic nomenclature)

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