Misidentified Iconotype

[W.Wuster]

Carlos AR Fernandes wrote:
> Hello to all,
> 
> Sorry for the previous posting (that's the problem when you use cut and
> paste and you don't check before clicking "send"...). Oops.
> 
> Is someone aware of any case/example/reference of a species
> described only with basis in a old drawing (iconotype) that, due to
> the low quality of the illustration, caused such controversy among
> specialists (e.g. different experts do not agree with the ID of
> the image as in the case of very closely related species, or if it is
> impossible to decide with objectivity where the image is accurate or
> affected by artistic freedom/style/baroque) a new name and/or type
> needed to be decided for the species.
> I am sure there must be several cases of this but I was unable so
> far to find references for it and at the moment I am involved in a
> taxonomic/nomenclatural argument of this kind.
> Maybe someone with experience as museum curator as faced this situation
> before. Or perhaps any expert in nomenclatural questions well acquainted
> with the ICNZ.
> I am looking forward to a reply and very grateful in advance.
> 
> Carlos

The cobra Naja siamensis was described by Laurenti (1768) on the basis 
of a (non-naturalistic) engraving in Seba's Thesaurus. Later, the cobra 
Naja naja isanensis was described by Nutaphand (1982), but without a 
type being formally designated. However, a photo was shown and 
represents an iconotype. The two taxa agree in terms of visible 
diagnostic features and locality of origin.

The matter was settled by desgination of a preserved single musem 
specimen as neotype for both N. siamensis and N.n. isanensis, consigning 
the latter to objective synonymy of the former.

Reference:
W?STER, W., D.A. WARRELL, M.J. COX, P. JINTAKUNE & J. NABHITABHATA 
(1997) Redescription of Naja siamensis Laurenti, 1768 (Serpentes: 
Elapidae), a widely overlooked spitting cobra from Southeast Asia: 
geographic variation, medical importance and designation of a neotype. 
Journal of Zoology, 243: 771-788. (pdf downloadable at 
http://biology.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/Publications.htm)

Cheers,

Wolfgang



-- 
Dr. Wolfgang W?ster  -  Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences    Tel: +44 1248 382301
University of Wales              Fax: +44 1248 371644
Bangor LL57  2UW                 E-mail: w.wuster at bangor.ac.uk
Wales, UK                        http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/

  Herpetological Journal: http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/HJ/