Gents, as requested:

The exact text from the W AND W paper:

From Wells and Wellington 1985 pages 43-44

Acanthophis lancasteri sp. nov.

Holotype: An adult specimen in the Western Australian Museum R70960. Collected at 45 km NNE of Halls Creek, Western Australia.

Diagnosis: A member of the Acanthophis antarcticus complex most closely related to Acanthophis praelongus, and readily identified by the description in Storr (1981:209-210) the material utilized by Storr, excluding those specimens from the Northern Territory is referrable to Acanthophis lancasteri rather than A. praelongus). Acanthophis lancasteri is believed to be confined to Northwestern Australia and across the 'top end' of the Northern Territory. Acanthophis praelongus is confined to Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Excellent diagnostic illustrations of Acanthophis lancasteri appear in Storr (1981, Fig. 4), Cogger (1983, plate 764 cited as "Acanthophis praelongus), in Gow (1977: plate 22 cited as "Acanthophis antarcticus" and in Gow (1982: plate 3, cited as Acanthophis praelongus). Etymology: Named for Actor and Philosopher Burt Lancaster.

Acanthophis praelongus Ramsay 1877

Acanthophis pyrrhus Boulenger 1989

Acanthophis schistos sp. nov.

Holotype: An adult specimen in the Western Australian Museum R64698. Collected at Canning Dam, Western Australia.

Diagnosis: A short bodied thick set, highly venomous snake of the genus Acanthophis, most closely related to Acanthophis antarcticus and readily distinguished by the data given by Storr (1981:206-207: fig 2). Cogger (1983:24-23, Figs 185, 763) provides an adequate diagnostic description of it's nearest relative Acanthophis antarcticus.END

Note: Aplin's argument is that the cited publications by W and W do not separate the WA populations and hence are not diagnosis of the taxa as "identified" by W and W.

Frankly I don't care one way or other what is the final view on these names, but it'd be nice to get some sort of common view so that we can then move foreward and without confusing lay people.

ALL THE BEST

Acanthophis taxonomy

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