Case 3140. Sceloporus occidentalis Baird & Girard, 1852 (Reptilia, Sauria) : Proposed replacement of rediscovered syntypes by a neotype
Bell, E.L.; Smith, H.M.; Chiszar, D.
Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 58(3): 224-226
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0007-5167 Accession: 020691416
The purpose of this application is to designate a neotype for the Pacific blue-bellied lizard Sceloporus occidentalis Baird & Girard, 1852 (family Phrynosomatidae) from the west coast ranges of North America. Two missing original syntypes were rediscovered in 1996 and, under Article 75.8 of the Code, resume the status of name-bearing specimens; however, they are immature specimens which do not distinguish S. occidentalis from closely related taxa. The proposed neotype, originally designated in 1954, is a well preserved adult specimen of known provenance.