Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi folks,

well, this morning I was thinking about systematics, jobs, money and so on. Then I came up with this idea...

As there is a lot of sponsoring in all kinds of things (sports, clothes, etc.) why not also in biological systematics?

What about an institute where international taxonomists are able to do nothing more than their job, including field studies and so on. There are still a lot of species out there that are not described or not even recognized. Money comes from industrie and sponsors and all they get for their money is the name of the species. Ok, perhaps it sound a bit wired (i.e. Pogona mcdonalii or Naja ferrarii ) but what's a name today? Look at some of the names given to species today.
Taxonomists would have to worry what names to give anymore (hey Richard, this would make life easier ). Perhaps one would find enough sponsors for years of work and there would be no worries that institutional research runs out of money anymore.

Just a thought, and not quite as serious at it seems

Cheers,
Wulf
-----
http://www.leiopython.de ,
http://www.herpers-digest.com

Wulf, your previous post is not the first time the idea was made known.
Actually it's been about for ages.
I wrote a paper on it a few years back - it is at:
http://www.smuggled.com/CasTax1.htm
and I suggest that you read it.

Cut and pasted below it says:

What’s in a species name?
Raymond Hoser
Originally published in Crocodilian - Newsletter of the Victorian Association of Amateur Herpetologists 2 (7) 2000, pp. 9-10.

Last year (1999) I was sitting in the AHS 50th anniversary conference in Sydney hearing Dr. Hal Cogger give a talk about scientific names of reptiles.
He kept asking the rhetorical question ‘Think of the person behind the name’.
He was referring to people like Lesueur, Krefft, Storr and others who played key roles in describing many of Australia’s reptile species.
Species such as Oedura lesueurii, Varanus storri and Cacophis kreffti were named after these herpetological greats.
It is traditional that species are sometimes named in honour of the good work done by people.
In more recent times I’ve done this myself. Take for example the species Pailsus pailsei, Acanthophis wellsei and the like. People were immortally honoured for their contributions to science.
Then there are the species named after people who’ve made major contributions to public life. Acanthophis cummingi is named after one of Australia’s best investigative journalists, Fia Cumming.
In the cases involving the species I named there was no ‘favors’ sought or received for naming these species after the various people – nor should there be.
The names were assigned solely on the basis of merit and as an honour.
That’s how it should be.
Contrary to misinformation by some so-called scientists, the actual process of assigning a scientific name to an undescribed species is actually fairly simple. The ‘Rules’ as set out by the ICZN dictate the process and the nomenclatural act is the simple part of the equation. More difficult is the ‘proving’ that the species being named, hasn’t already been named previously and if it has been, then no new name can be assigned. Part of this part is also setting out why the newly described form is in fact a separate ‘new’ species.
Over the years some have abused the system.
There was the case of the corrupt NPWS/NSW official who sought and got a species named after him in return for the continued issuing of licences to the man who described the species. He now claims the honour of having the species named after him for his ‘good work’. That is yet another lie coming from the NPWS/NSW bureaucracy.
This was totally corrupt, but fortunately I think cases like this have been the exception rather than the norm.
I suppose we can even compare the naming of species to that of the Queen’s birthday honours.
That system was also supposed to reward meritorous people with titles like AO, AOM and Knighthoods (‘Sir’).
The system has been so debased over recent years that such an honour now usually implies that the recipient has either bought it, or is completely corrupt.
Take for example names like Sir Robert Askin, Sir Terrence Lewis and the like.
Askin was a corrupt State Premier, while Lewis was a corrupt Police Commissioner, who was later jailed for extorting $600,000 from hardened criminals.
Fortunately the system of naming species has not yet become so debased that those who are most corrupt or those with the largest wallets are immortally honoured by having species named after them.
Or has it?
On 11 December 1999, page 3 of the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Dr. Michael Archer of the Australian Museum in Sydney was offering to name invertebrates after people who paid his staff $5,000. The story ran as follows:

‘For $5,000, Professor Mike Archer is offering to sell humans a shot at immortality this Christmas, a chance to name a new species. Professor Archer, the man who has vowed to bring the Tasmanian tiger back to life and who has arrived at the Australian Museum like an injection of adrenalin, is guaranteeing anyone with a chequebook that he can give a more ''real immortality'' than religion.
His colleague at the museum, invertebrate specialist Dr Winston Ponder, says that at any one time the institution has around 20 species that are available for naming. These include a sea worm, cicadas, freshwater snails and centipedes.’

The scheme has since been promoted further with a glossy mail-out brochure which also appeared with the Museum’s quality ANH magazine.
Now before I go on, I must make some important points.
The first is that I do not intend attacking Archer’s scientific credentials or general integrity. I am sure his motives in this matter are honourable. He launched the scheme on the basis that the money raised would be used to fund further research.
Furthermore, as far as I know, the scheme is at this stage limited to invertebrates. And while talking about the Australian Museum and its staff, I shall report my own opinions of them. In over 20 years of extensive dealings with the herpetology and other sections, I can only say positive things of them. They have always provided me with every assistance requested, including when publishing papers and books and given me unfettered access to their vast archives of literature, specimens and the like. And while I constantly whinge about the tax-payer’s money wasted by government on many things, I think that it appears that most money spent on the museum in Sydney, is money well spent.
But as for the ‘cash for names’ idea, I must say that I find it totally abhorrent.
Now I know some of you will be thinking, ‘but it’s been going on for years, all Archer’s done is formalise it’, and yes, you are probably correct.
But still I think that the whole idea could cause even greater problems.
In order to raise more money, scientists may rush to name more species and cut corners to do so. This could lead to come of the ‘inadequate taxonomy’ as described by WA Museum Reptile Curator Ken Aplin, in a recent issue of Monitor.
Then there’s the problem of who decides the worthiness of the ‘charity’. People could legitimately argue that the money raised should go on things like the homeless, rather than on museum exhibits. Or the government could use the extra money raised by selling species names as an excuse to cut the museum’s funding. They’ve done this sort of thing before.
The net result being that the museum and its staff have no more money to do their job.
And then there’s my biggest objection.
That’s the names themselves.
I could envisage people like former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett handing over $50,000 of taxpayer’s funds to have a genus named after him.
Could you image books for eternity carrying the name Kennettus in honour of this despot?
Okay, so you may be one of the minority who voted for Kennett. Try SadamHussienus, AdolfHitlerus or whoever you think of as evil.
They have the bucks, they get the name – simple really!
Any way I looked at it, the scheme stank.
So much so I went to the ICZN with a formal complaint.
They have a format for their submissions and I did my complaint accordingly.
I sent it to the ICZN head, Phil Tubbs in the UK.
He replied to me fairly quickly.
He agreed with me.
That was the good part.
The bad part was that he said it was outside of the ICZN’s jurisdiction.
He referred to the ‘Rules’ and I take his word on this.
What does all this mean?
Expect more of the same.
Other institutions will have to emulate the Australian Museum’s scheme to remain ‘competitive’, and yes there will inevitably be a rush of inadequate taxonomy to assign names to the ever dwindling supply of unnamed species.
In the near future, the idea of naming species in honour of decent people may be a thing of the past. Instead it will be a game of scientists extorting money out of the highest bidders.
Oh and what happens if a person parts with a hard-earned $5,000 only to find that the species named in their honour is later synonymised with an earlier named species?
Do they get a refund?
Or will the ICZN have to bring in new rules to cover such contingencies.
Maybe they’ll introduce ‘cash for rulings’?
No matter how I look at the new emerging game rules for naming species, I don’t like it.
Add to this the many highly acrimonious disputes over names that we already see (e.g. the recent suppression of the names Varanus gouldii and Varanus rosenbergi (as known and accepted for the last 50 years), by ICZN decree: the attempted suppression of a couple of hundred Wells and Wellington names and so on), it looks like a bumpy ride for taxonomy and nomenclature in the years ahead.
And I’m not just talking reptiles either. The bumpiest ride will probably be for the invertebrates as the ‘gold rush’ becomes mayhem and more species are inadvertently named more than once.
As Hal Cogger said ‘Think of the person behind the name’.
I now add ‘and ask, how much did they pay for the honour?’
(Following are the letter and submission I sent to the ICZN and their reply).

RAYMOND T. HOSER
41 VILLAGE AVENUE,
DONCASTER,
VICTORIA, 3108,
AUSTRALIA.
PHONE: +61 3 9857-4491
FAX: +61 3 9857-4664
MOBILE: +61 412 777 211
E-MAIL: adder@smuggled.com
December 11th 1999

TO/ PHIL TUBBS/ANTHEA GENTRY,
THE SECRETARY,
INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR ZOOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE (ICZN),
C/O NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM,
CROMWELL ROAD,
LONDON, SW7-5BD,
ENGLAND.
E-mail: P.Tubbs@nhm.ac.uk
A.Gentry@nhm.ac.uk

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

I have made a submission to the ICZN on the matter of cash-for-names as reported here in Australia. The submission is self-explanatory.
I have made it in the format you seek for the Bull. ZN and hope that you can publish it in there.
I accept that you may have to modify it somewhat before printing it. However I ask that you PLEASE allow me to check over the FINAL DRAFT before going to print.
I am sure that you will appreciate the potential seriousness of the issue raised.
In the first instance I will ONLY be e-mailing this to you as an attached Microsoft Word 7 file – and then in the text of a second e-mail. If you have troubles reading or converting the files, please tell me and we can make other arrangements.
Please acknowledge receipt of the submission when you get it.
Thanking you for your anticipated assistance’s.

YOURS SINCERELY.

RAYMOND HOSER.

Case: XXXXX

Cash for Scientific names: proposed outlawing of the practice.

R. T. Hoser,

Death Adder Services, PO Box 599, Doncaster, Victoria, 3108, Australia.

Abstract. The purpose of this application is to make it against the ICZN rules for a person to accept any cash or other form of gratuity for designating a scientific name in honour of any person, company or corporation. Furthermore the application seeks to automatically make any name invalid when it is found that any reward, financial or otherwise is given to person for naming a species within ten years of the name being published. This application also asks the ICZN to codify and define the nature of cash or other gratuities relevant to the application.

Keywords. Nomeclature, taxonomy, names, cash, financial rewards, Australia.

On 11 December 1999, the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper (p. 3) reported that Professor Michael Archer of the Australian Museum, Sydney intended offering people the right to have undescribed species named after them for a $5,000 fee. The scheme was being promoted as a Christmas gift for ‘for the relative with everything’.
For the purposes of this submission, the article cited above is accepted as being truthfully reported and factually correct.
The idea of debasing zoology to the level of having those with the cash being able to demand having species named in their ‘honour’ is abhorrent to those zoologists who have devoted their lifetimes to the study of animals. It is akin to the now discredited idea of bent Australian politicians and public figures buying a knighthood from the Crown. In reference to corrupt people buying Knighthoods, this author refers to a corrupt Police Commissioner, ‘Sir’ Terrence Lewis, who is alleged to have ‘bought’ his knighthood. He was forced to relinquish the honour after he was convicted and jailed for extorting $600,000 from criminals in Brisbane, Australia. NSW Premier Sir Robert Askin was also reputed to have bought his knighthood. Askin’s corruption was proven only after his wife’s death, whereupon investigations were made into how she was able to leave a vast estate that reflected wealth far beyond her late husband’s reputed legal earnings. Refer to Hoser (1999a, 1999b) for relevant information.
The plan will inevitably lead to unworthy people and despots being honoured in such a way, and these same people later using the fact a species has been named after them to claim a credibility that they may otherwise not be entitled to.
There are also a number of other inherent problems in the scheme as proposed by Archer. Should the Archer plan go ahead, it may well set a precedent whereby other scientists will abuse their positions to line their own pockets by hastily naming a number of new species solely in order to collect vast sums of cash.
Raymond Hoser holds Michael Archer and his colleagues at the Australian Museum in the highest regard and have worked with many in the past on zoological matters. Furthermore while there is no doubt that the money they collect will be put to good use, it is obvious that the idea will be seized upon by other less scrupulous people to collect money purely for their own commercial gain.
Once a new species that does not carry a valid name is identified, the naming part is in fact quite simple and straightforward. The procedure is published in "The Rules" by the ICZN and is available to anyone who wishes to pay the nominal amount of about US$35 for it.
However while the act of naming a new species is fairly simple, it is currently a scientific convention that a substantial amount of research is done on a new species (and if possible related species) before one rushes to print with a new species description.
In 1984-5 two herpetologists, Richard Wells and Cliff Ross Wellington published three papers describing hundreds of new species of reptile and frog. The Australian Society of Herpetologists (ASH) then petitioned the ICZN in June 1987 (unsuccessfully) to have the works suppressed (ICZN case number 2531). Most of the names now have validity in perpetuity.
The general consensus was that some of the Wells and Wellington descriptions, (of no more than a few lines) were clearly inadequate. They were however within "The Rules" as set out by the ICZN and/or outside of the ICZN’s terms of reference and jurisdiction. ASH and others claimed that the Wells and Wellington events threw Australian science into chaos and warned strongly against their actions setting a precedent (see Aplin 1999). The two men were vilified by other scientists and effectively shut off from most other herpetologists in Australia. However taking the Wells and Wellington act to it’s logical end conclusion in light of the ‘cash for names’ scenario, the two men could have made themselves instant millionaires by charging people $5,000 per species name assigned.
Should the Archer ‘cash-for-names’ scheme get off the ground, there is no doubt it will be used by others to fund their own ventures. By way of example, this author would have to seriously consider using a similar scheme to name some of the dozens of undescribed Australian reptiles to fund a reprint of the Endangered Animals of Australia book, published in 1991 and now out of print.
Other zoologists would also jump on the bandwagon and again it is noted that sooner or later the system would be abused, perhaps to buy cars and boats instead of funding science and education.
In the most recent issue of the reptile journal Monitor of which this author is editor, we published an article by Dr. Ken Aplin of the WA Museum complaining about "inadequate taxonomy". Should the ‘cash-for-names’ scheme or idea become more widely used, it could be guaranteed that there will be even more "inadequate taxonomy".
The chaos feared when Wells and Wellington rushed into print with hundreds of new genus and species descriptions will be but a Sunday picnic compared with the new taxonomic chaos about to be unleashed should ‘cash-for-names’ gain widespread acceptance and currency..
The International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature is accordingly asked to:
(1) Use its plenary powers to outlaw or prohibit the validation of scientific names assigned to persons, companies, groups or corporations that are found to have paid a financial or other gratuity for the action. The International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature is hereby asked to do this by automatically declaring invalid (nomen nudem) any name derived by this means.

(2) To use the above proposed rule/s to place on the Official Record of Rejected and Invalid Names in Zoology scientific names assigned to persons, companies, groups or corporations that are found to have paid a financial or other gratuity for the action if that name does gain widespread acceptance and/or use.

(3) The above rule/s to only apply provided that it is either published and/or brought to the ICZN’s attention within fifteen years of the original description being published.

(4) The ICZN to rule that provision or loan of specimens for any purpose not to be defined as a gratuity.

(5) The ICZN to rule that provision of wages or salaries in the course of one’s normal paid employment not to be defined as a gratuity.

(6) The ICZN to rule that provision of normal working benefits or conditions by an employer not to be defined as a gratuity.

(6) The ICZN to set a commencement date for the above rules to apply and to make that date as early as practicable.

References:

Aplin, K. 1999. ‘Amateur’ Taxonomy in Australian Herpetology – Help or Hindrance? Monitor 10 (2/3):104-109.

Australian Society of Herpetologists 1987. Case 2531: Three works by Richard C. Wells and C. Ross Wellingtonroposed suppression for nomenclatural purposes, Bull. ZN 44 (2):116-121.

Hoser, R. T. 1991. Endangered Animals of Australia, Pierson Publishing, Sydney. 240 pp.

Hoser, R. T. 1999a. Victoria Police Corruption, Kotabi, Doncaster, Victoria. 736 pp.

Hoser, R. T. 1999b. Victoria Police Corruption - 2, Kotabi, Doncaster, Victoria. 800 pp.

Wells, R.W. and Wellington, C.R. 1984. A synopsis of the class Reptilia in Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology, 1 (3-4):73-129.

Wells, R.W. and Wellington, C.R. 1985a. A classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology, Supplementary Series, (1):1-61.

Wells, R.W. and Wellington, C.R. 1985a. A synopsis of the Amphibia and Reptilia of New Zealand. Australian Journal of Herpetology, Supplementary Series, (1):62-64.

Woodford, J. 1999. For the relative with everything - a new species. Sydney Morning Herald, December 11:3.

Subject: "Names for cash"
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 12:23:32 +0000
From: Philip Tubbs
To: adder@smuggled.com

Dear Mr Hoser,

Thank you for your message and the attached draft application relating to "names for cash".
The idea is far from new, and of course there are many grey areas (people from the 18th century onwards have often named animals and plants after their mentors and sponsors!). You are not alone in regarding the "sale" of names for cash as undesirable (I myself would join you in this), and in some circumstances unethical.
Your draft application relates directly to ethics, and the Commission has always resolved that it should not, and cannot, get involved in any aspect of this field. A new edition of the Code has just been published, as you probably know, and like its predecessors this contains an Appendix (a "Code of Ethics". Point 4 of this reads "No author should propose a name that, to his or her knowledge or reasonable belief, would be likely to give offence on any grounds"; point 7 reads "The observation of these principles [of ethics] is a matter for the proper feelings and conscience of individual zoologists, and the Commission is not empowered to investigate or rule upon alleged breaches of them". It follows that the Commission cannot rule on, or even consider, any matter which is purely one of propriety, whatever might be the individual opinions of its members.
Quite apart from this overriding position, the practicalities would be insuperable. They would involve the retrospective disqualifying of names on the sole ground that they had been formulated expressly in return for some financial transaction of benefit to the authors; this would be difficult to demonstrate objectively and the many complications (at each stage of the argument) are obvious. The Commission can deal only with the objective status of names and their impact on biological science, not with the motives (actual or supposed) of their authors.
As you will see, it is not possible for the Commission to deal with applications such as the one you have sent, though this is certainly not to say that members would approve of the making of offers of "names for sale". I hope you will not regard this as "censorship"; it is merely the case that ethics fall outside the Commission's remit.
With best wishes for the season and the new century,

Philip Tubbs

International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature
c/o The Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 5BD
U.K.

ALL THE BEST

What’s in a species name?

Ray,
In the three articles of 1984 and 1985 that you made mention of, we erected 249 new taxa, of which 89 were new genera, and 160 were new species. As you would know, it has become almost an urban myth that the new names proposed by us in 1984 and 1985 were variously abusive, trite, offensive or inappropriate. Obviously the works in question have not been read by many of the critics in this regard so it is appropriate to provide a full list of the actual new taxa in those works with their etymologies. It can be readily seen that all of the names comply with both the Rules and the Recommendations of the ICZN.

The following new taxa were proposed by Richard W. Wells and Ross C. Wellington in the “Synopsis” and “Classification” Papers of 1984 and 1985 and the Synopsis of NZ paper 1985 (b).

Christinus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named after the senior author’s girlfriend, Christine Biggs – a relative of the Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs.

Gowidon Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – named after Australian herpetologist Graeme Gow.

Licentia Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – meaning “freedom to do as one pleases”

Mantichorasaurus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – a group of small lizards named for the Mantichor – a fabulous beast with a human’s face, lion’s body and scorpion’s tail.

Phthanodon Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – meaning to anticipate or do first.

Rankinia Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – a group of lizards named after the author’s colleague who died after falling from a tree at night while collecting lizards in New Caledonia.

Worrellisaurus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Varanidae) – named for the Australian herpetologist Eric Worrell.

Anepischetosia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – meaning ‘unrestrained, alluding to the ideal intellectual state’

Anepischetosia sharmani (Wells and Wellington, 1984) (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for mammalian geneticist Professor Geoffrey Bruce Sharman.

Bellatorias Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – meaning “war-like”.

Carlia covacevichi Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian museum curator Jeanette Covacevich (note the use of masculine gender for the specific epithet).

Coeranoscincus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – for a group of diminutive burrowing lizards, meaning master or ruler of lizards.

Concinnia Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – means skillfully put together.

Contundo Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – means “to crush”

Cyclodomorphus michaeli Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the senior author’s brother Michael Warwick Wells who funded the field trip at the time the holotype was collected.

Egernia mcpheei Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist and book collector David R. McPhee.

Eroticoscincus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – meaning “amorous skink” for a group of diminutive burrowing lizards.

Eulamprus heatwolei Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for American herpetologist Dr Harold Heatwole.

Eulamprus leuraensis Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Leura, NSW (the type locality).

Flamoscincus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – meaning “fiery-red skink”, for a group of reddish coloured lizards.

Gavisus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – means “to give delight”.

Glaphyromorphus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – a group of shiny, smooth-bodied skinks – the name alludes to the highly polished appearance of these lizards.

Gnypetoscncus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – means “weak skink, and alludes to their thermal fragility”.

Kommosogogus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – means “that which stimulates a striking or beating of the breast in lamentation” in reference to the taxonomic difficulty of the group.

Lampropholis lunneyi Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian ecologist Daniel Lunney who spent millions of dollars in research grants studying its ecology.

Liburnascincus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the “God of lustful enjoyment”.

Magnuscincus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist, Magnus Peterson.

Minervascincus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the “Goddess of Wisdom”.

Minervascincus josephineaeWells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the junior author’s then wife, Josephine Wellington who hated herpetologists.

Minervascincus sutherlandi Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the Australian venom expert Dr Straun Sutherland.

Nodorha cassandrae Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Cassandra Wellington, the daughter of the junior author.

Nodorha garrymartini Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for a detective in the NSW Police Force, Garry Martin who later became a drink salesman..

Patheticoscincus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – meaning “sensuous skink”, in allusion to their body form.

Protervascincus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – meaning “bold skink”, in reference to their behaviour when chased.

Saproscincus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – meaning “rotten skink” in reference to their use of decaying leaf-litter as a microhabitat.

Solvonemesis Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – meaning “to set free the Goddess of Retributive Justice”.

Tantaloscincus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – Tantalos was a mythological character symbolic of eternal torment, the name alluding to the taxonomic complexity of the group.

Tantaloscincus biggsi Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the senior author’s girlfriend, Christine Biggs.

Telchinoscincus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – means “mischievous skink”, in reference to their secretive behaviour.

Vaderscincus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Darth Vader, as a warning that the darker side of science must not be tolerated.

Libertadictus Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Typhlopidae) – meaning “devoted to freedom”, for a group of secretive burrowing snakes.

Antaresia Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Pythonidae) – a group of snakes named for the star Antares, the red giant in the Constellation of Scorpius. The senior author also named his daughter Antares as well, because it was the brightest star the night she was born.

Australiasis Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Pythonidae) – a group of snakes from Australasia.

Morelia cheynei Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Pythonidae) – named for the junior author’s son Cheyne Wellington.

Morelia mcdowelli Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Pythonidae) – named for the American herpetologist Samuel B. McDowell.

Cannia Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Australian herpetologists John and George Cann.

Furina somarei Wells and Wellington, 1984 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for the then
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Michael Somare

Coplandia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Myobatrachidae) – named for
Australian herpetologist Stephen J. Copland.

Gradwellia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Myobatrachidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Norman Gradwell.

Hesperocrinia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Myobatrachidae) – alludes to the western distribution pattern of this assemblage of species.

Hosmeria Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Myobatrachidae) – named for Australian herpetologist William (Bill) Hosmer.

Littlejohnophryne Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Myobatrachidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Murray J. Littlejohn.

Neoruinosis Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Myobatrachidae) – meaning “new disaster”, in reference to past errors in the taxonomy of the group.

Opisthodon lambi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Myobatrachidae) – named for the Australian zoologist J. Lamb.

Prohartia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Myobatrachidae) – named for
Australian artist Pro Hart.

Pseudophryne pengilleyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Myobatrachidae) – named for Australian ecologist Ross K. Pengilley.

Tylerdella Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Myobatrachidae) – named for Michael J. Tyler, noted authority on Australian frogs.

Brendanura Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Pelodryadidae) – named for natural history photographer Brenda Coulson.

Coggerdonia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Pelodryadidae) – named for
Australian herpetologist Harold G. Cogger.

Colleeneremia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Pelodryadidae) – named for Miss Colleen Montgomery, a friend of the senior author.

Llewellynura Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Pelodryadidae) – named for noted wildlife scientist Dr Leighton Llewellyn.

Mahonabatrachus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Pelodryadidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Michael Mahony.

Mosleyia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Pelodryadidae) – named for Australian wildlife conservationist Geoff Mosley.

Neophractops Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Pelodryadidae) – meaning “new phractops”, a reference to a past taxonomy.

Pengilleyia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Pelodryadidae) – named for
Australian naturalist David Pengilley.

Rawlinsonia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Pelodryadidae) – named for
Australian herpetologist Peter Rawlinson, who was killed while collecting on the island of Krakatoa.

Rawlinsonia corbeni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Pelodryadidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Chris Corben.

Saganura Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Pelodryadidae) – named for American astronomer, “Carl Sagan”.

Sandyrana Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Pelodryadidae) – named for Miss Sandy Ingleby the senior author’s friend, and noted mammalogist of the Australian Museum.

Crocodylus pethericki Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Crocodylidae) – named for Australian ex-crocodile hunter, Ray Petherick.

Philas webbi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Crocodylidae) – named for Australian crocodile consultant and novelist, Dr Graham Webb.

Chelodina rankini Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – named for the author’s friend and fellow herpetologist, Peter Rankin.

Chelymys cooki Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Robert Cook.

Chelymys johncanni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – named for Australian turtle expert John Cann.

Chelymys windorah Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – named for the Windorah district of Queensland.

Elseya purvisi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Malcomb Purvis.

Elseya stirlingi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – named for Australian naturalist Stan Stirling.

Hesperochelodina Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – alludes to the western distribution of this group of turtles.

Macrochelodina Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – alludes to the larger size of this group of turtles.

Tropicochelymys Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – alludes to the
tropical distribution of this group of turtles.

Tropicochelymys goodei Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – named for Australian herpetologist and author John Goode.

Tropicochelymys insularis Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – meaning “island” and alluding to the distribution of the species.

Tropicochelymys leichhardti Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – named for 19th century explorer Ludwig Leichhardt.

Tropicochelymys worrelli Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Chelidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Eric Worrell.

Amalosia phillipsi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Stephen Phillips.

Christinus biggsae Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for the senior author’s girlfriend Miss Christine Biggs.

Cyrtodactylus sadleiri Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for Australian mammalian physiologist Dr R. Sadleir.

Dactyloperus annetteae Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for the senior author’s girlfriend Miss Annette Martin.

Dactyloperus kingi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for Australian ecologist Dr Dennis King.

Dactyloperus lazelli Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Brian Lazell.

Diplodactylus dorrotheae Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for the senior author’s girlfriend Dorothy Curnow.

Diplodactylus jonathoni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for John Charles Wells, a brother of the senior author.

Eremiastrophrurus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – in allusion to the desert distribution of this group of lizards.

Eremiastrophrurus mahoodi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for Australian ecologist Ian Mahood, who was accidentally killed in a helicopter crash while surveying rock wallaby populations.

Heteronotia horneri Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Paul Horner.

Heteronotia wadei Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for American zoologist Robert Wade.

Oedura attenboroughi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for British author and naturalist David Attenborough.

Oedura derelicta Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – meaning abandoned or ownerless, in allusion to the neglected state of the taxonomy of the group.

Oedura greeri Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for noted herpetologist Dr Allen E. Greer.

Phyllurus swaini Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for Australian naturalist Malcom Swain.

Phyriadoria Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – from the Latin adorare, meaning “worship”, in allusion to the sacrosanct state of the taxonomy of this group.

Quantasia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for the Australian airline company QANTAS.

Rhynchoedura ormsbyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for the Australian herpetologist and prominent divorce lawyer Anthony (Tony) Ormsby.

Ridegekko Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Gekkonidae) – named for the President of the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature Dr W.D.L. Ride.

Delma wollemi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Pygopodidae) – named for the Wollemi area near the Type Locality.

Pygopus klugei Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Pygopodidae) – named for American herpetologist Dr Arnold Kluge.

Pygopus territorianus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Pygopodidae) – named for the Northern Territory.

Ctenophorus dudleyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Alexander P. Dudley.

Ctenophorus raffertyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – named for Australian actor Chips Rafferty.

Houstoniasaurus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Terry Houston.

Intellagama Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – in reference to the intelligence of this group of lizards.

Lophognathus burnsi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Neville Burns.

Phthanodon hawkeswoodi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – named for Australian entomologist and botanist Trevor John Hawkeswood.

Pogona henrylawsoni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – named for Australian poet Henry Lawson.

Pogona loriae Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – named for Miss Lori Hicks, a colleague of the authors.

Rotundacryptus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – in reference to the rotund body form of these cryptic species.

Tachyon Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – for the Tachyon – a hypothetical sub-atomic particle that moves faster than light, in reference to this fast-moving group of lizards.

Tympanocryptis karumba Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – named for the Type Locality of Karumba, Qld.

Tympanocryptis telecom Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – named for Telecom Australia who built a communication tower on top of the Type Locality.

Uxoriousauria Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – from the Latin uxoriux, meaning “excessively fond of another’s wife”.

Wittenagama Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Geoff Witten.

Wittenagama parnabyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Agamidae) – named for Australian bat expert Harry Parnaby.

Aspetosaurus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Varanidae) – aspetos means “unspeakably great”, saurus “lizard”.

Odatria keithhornei Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Varanidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Keith Horne.

Odatria kuranda Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Varanidae) – named for the Type Locality of Kuranda, Qld.

Odatria pengilleyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Varanidae) – named for Australian ecologist Ross K. Pengilley.

Pantherosaurus barryjonesi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Varanidae) – named for Australian Minister for Science, and scholar Barry Jones.

Pantherosaurus kuringai Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Varanidae) – named for the Type Locality, Ku-ring-Gai Chase National Park, Sydney.

Titanzius Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Varanidae) – from Titon, son of Uranus and Gaea, symbolic of brute force and large size.

Acritoscincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – from akritos meaning “mixed”, and scincus, meaning skink – in reference to its previous placement in an African genus with numerous other highly differentiated species.

Acritoscincus buddeni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Kevin Budden who was killed by a Taipan in north Queensland.

Acritoscincus donnellani Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian geneticist Stephen Donnellan.

Anomalopus bellamii Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for British naturalist and conservationist David Bellamy.

Arenicolascincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – means in effect “skink of the sand”, in reference to its burrowing behaviour.

Arenicolascincus lami Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian earth-moving contractor and destroyer of reptile habitats Ronald Lam.

Carinascincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Carina Clark.

Carlia arafurae Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the Arafura region of northern Australia.

Carlia boltoni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian biologist William (Bill) Bolton.

Carlia boustedi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian naturalist Billy Bousted.

Carlia instantanea Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – in reference to the speed of this lizard in leaf-litter.

Carlia monsolgaensis Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Mt Olga, Northern Territory.

Carlia mysteria Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – meaning puzzle or mystery - a reference to its previous inclusion with another species by taxonomists.

Carlia springelli Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian conservationist and expert in local history Peter Springell.

Claireascincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian physiologist and herpetologist, Hazel Claire Weekes.

Claireascincus jenkinsi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Rob Jenkins.

Claireascincus schumacki Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian venom expert David Schumack.

Claireascincus triumviratus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the triumvirate, in reference to the co-existence of three sympatric closely related species.

Claireascincus wardi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian naturalist Melbourne Ward.

Concinnia martini Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Keith Martin.

Contundo roomi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian botanist and collector Peter Room.

Costinisauria Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian ecologist Alec B. Costin.

Costinisauria worrelli Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist, Eric Worrell.

Cryptoblepharus hawkeswoodi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian entomologist and botanist Trevor John Hawkeswood.

Cryptoblepharus horneri Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Paul Gough Horner.

Cryptoblepharus suburbia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – in reference to this species adaptability to urbanized habitats.

Cryptoblepharus swansoni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Stephen Swanson.

Ctenotus miowera Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the Type Locality of Miowera, Qld.

Deloidiogenes Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – from delos meaning “clearly”and idiogenes, meaning “distinctive”.

Egernia barnetti Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Brian Barnett.

Egernia jossae Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian physiologist Jean Joss.

Egernia kennersoni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Kim John Kennerson.

Eulamprus herseyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian conservationist Frederick K. Hersey.

Flamoscincus webberi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Paul Webber.

Glaphyromorphus harwoodi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for British naturalist Stephen Harwood.

Harrisoniascincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian biologist Launcelot Harrison.

Hemiergis namatjira Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian artist Albert Namatjira.

Hortonia Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist David Horton.

Hortonia oakesi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist and medical researcher Nicholas Oakes.

Hortonia obiri Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the Type Locality of Obiri Rock in Arnhem Land.

Hortonia shinei Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Richard Shine.

Kommosagogus hickmani Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian biologist John Hickman.

Lampropholis longleyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist George Longley.

Lampropholis swani Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Michael Swan.

Lerista monstrous Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – a reference to the presumption that this species was synonymous with another.

Lerista zietzi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist A. Zietz.

Liopholis bradshawi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian physiologist Stephen D. Bradshaw.

Liopholis coplandi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Stephen J. Copland.

Liopholis messeli Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Dr Harry Messel in recognition of his research on crocodiles and Magpie Geese.

Liopholis robertsoni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Peter Robertson.

Lissolepis aquarius Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – in reference to its marshy habitat.

Litotescincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – from the Greek litotes, meaning “affirmation of an idea by denying the contrary”.

Litotescincus bartelli Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Roger Bartell.

Mawsoniascincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian zoologist Patricia Mawson.

Menetia microscincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – in reference to the diminutive size of this skink.

Minervascincus borroloola Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the Borroloola area of the Northern Territory.

Minervascincus harringtonensis Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Harrington, NSW.

Minervascincus janetae Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Miss Janet Cohn, a friend of the senior author.

Minervascincus monaro Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the Monaro region of NSW.

Morethia petros Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – petros, meaning of the rocks, in reference to its habitat preferences.

Notoscincus watersi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Peter Waters.

Opacitascincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – from the Latin opacitas, meaning “shade”, and in reference to the shady, damp microhabitat preferences of the species in this genus.

Proablepharus barklyensis Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the Barkly Tableland, Northern Territory.

Proablepharus stephensoni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Gary Stephenson.

Protervascincus kuranda Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the Kuranda area, Qld.

Rhodona rolloi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian naturalist, Glenn Richard Rollo.

Saiphos samueli Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Sam Wellington, a son of the junior author.

Saproscincus galli Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian biologist Bruce Gall.

Saproscincus ritchiei Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for paleontologist Alex Ritchie.

Saproscincus rosei Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian naturalist Anthony (Tony) Barclay Rose.

Sivascincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Siva, supreme deity of destruction and restoration.

Sivascincus wrani Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Neville K. Wran, past Premier of New South Wales,

Solvonemesis eyremaeus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – in reference to the eyrean or desertic distribution pattern of the species.

Storrisaurus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist, Glenn Milton Storr.

Storrisaurus husbandi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Grant Husband.

Tasmascincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the Tasman region.

Techmarscincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – derived from techna, meaning a subtlety, or artform, in reference to the morphology of this skink.

Tiliqua macroscincoides Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – in reference to its large maximum size attained.

Tiliqua milleri Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Brian Miller.

Tropidolopisma paynei Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian marine naturalist Phillip Leonard Payne.

Vaderscincus coynei Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian conservationist Peter Coyne.

Ramphotyphlops grovesi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Typhlopidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Donald Groves.

Sivadictus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Typhlopidae) – named for Siva, supreme deity of destruction and restoration.

Antaresia saxacola Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Pythonidae) – in reference to the saxicoline behaviour of the species.

Morelia metcalfei Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Pythonidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Dean Carlyle Metcalfe.

Nyctophilopython Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Pythonidae) –

Cerberus montgomeryi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Homalopsidae) – named for Australian herpetologist John Montgomery.

Pseudoferania harritosi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Homalopsidae) – named for ex-crocodile hunter George Harritos.

Acanthophis armstrongi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Neil Armstrong, first man on the Moon.

Acanthophis hawkei Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for a past Prime Minister of Australia, Robert Lee Hawke.

Acanthophis lancasteri Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Burt Lancaster, actor and philosopher.

Acanthophis schistos Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – from the Greek skhistos , meaning split, a reference both to this species’ rock-dwelling habits and that it was split from another species.

Antaioserpens Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – from the Greek Antaios of mythology, a giant wrestler whose strength was renewed when he touched the earth.

Austrelaps paulinus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Miss Pauline Crawford, a girlfriend of the senior author’s.

Brachyurophis murrayi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for
Australian ornithologist Murray D. Bruce.

Cacophis churchilli Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Greg Churchill.

Cannia centralis Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – in reference to the centralian distribution pattern of the species.

Demansia flagellatio Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – in reference to its extremely elongate, whip-like body form.

Elapognathus orri Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for controversial Australian philosopher Sydney Sparks Orr.

Elapognathus resolutus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – in reference to a potential resolution to taxonomic problems within this group.

Notechis edwardsi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Australian herpetologist John Edwards.

Notechis longmorei Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Richard Longmore.

Notechis schwaneri Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for American herpetologist Terry D. Schwaner.

Panacedechis Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – from the Greek rural deity Pan, the spirit of nature, and acedia, “despair”, in reference to the difficult taxonomy of this group of snakes.

Panacedechis worrelli Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Eric Worrell.

Parasuta harveyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Stephen Harvey.

Parasuta robertsoni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Australian computer expert Matthew Robertson.

Pseudonaja imperitor Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – from the Latin emperitor, meaning Commander-in-Chief.

Pseudonaja jukesi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Brian Jukes.

Pseudonaja kellyi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Australian bushranger, Ned Kelly – noted for standing his ground against insurmountable odds.

Pseudonaja mengdeni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for American herpetologist Gregory Mengden.

Pseudonaja ohnoi Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for geneticist Dr Susumu Ohno of California.

Pseudonaja vanderstraateni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – named for Australian herpetologist Mike Van der Straaten.

Unechis incredibilis Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Elapidae) – in reference to the incredible totally pinkish-red colouration of the species.

Leioaspetos Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Amphibia, Leiopelmatidae) – rough or uneven to the touch, a reference to its morphological appearance.

Girardiscincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for the 19th century naturalist C. Girard.

Oligosoma newmani Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for New Zealand herpetologist, Donald G. Newman.

Oligosoma robinsoni Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for Australian/New Zealand biologist Prof Edward (Ted) S. Robinson.

Robbisaurus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for New Zealand herpetologist Joan Robb.

Hardyscincus Wells and Wellington, 1985 (Reptilia, Scincidae) – named for New Zealand herpetologist Graham S. Hardy.

References

Wells, R.W, and Wellington, R.C. (1984): A Synopsis of the Class Reptilia in Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology, 1 (3-4): 73-129

Wells, R.W, and Wellington, R.C. (1984): A Classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology, Supplementary Series No 1: 1-61

Wells, R.W, and Wellington, R.C. (1984): A Synopsis of the Amphibia and Reptilia of New Zealand. Australian Journal of Herpetology, Supplementary Series No 1: 62-64

Regards

Richard Wells

Even without any monetary incentive, there is currently no shortage of new names for old taxa. According to some species concepts, a difference of a single character is enough for a new species to be recognized. It isn't hard to find differences as small as this, especially since molecular techniques are widely employed. The result is a plethora of new names for old taxa. Old American taxa such as Elaphe guttata, Sceloporus graciosus and Charina bottae are being splintered simply because some scientists do not know what a species is. A species is not a mtDNA lineage.