Emydura victoriae - Red Face Turtle. When the Taxonomy goes Wrong: An example of the dangers of making taxonomic proclimations.
In 1985 Richard Wells and Ross Wellington published a paper that had a rather resounding, and in part uncalled for reaction among Australian Herpetologists. The papers described many undescribed species some of which have stood the test of time. Some which have not.
However they did make one decision which has far reaching consequences and is the example I bring up here.
The setting of types is not a simple nor carefree thing to do in taxonomy. It can have major implications. In the Red Face Turtle (Emydura victoriae) this has occured. It is an unfortunate fact that this species had two types (known as paratypes) both are of equal value under the rules of the ICZN. However if someone comes along and decides to pick one and make it the lectotype then this could have major implications for the species. As is the case here.
The two name bearing types are not of the same species, an error was made in the original description. One of the types was an Emydura macquarii, unfortunately this type specimen was set as the lectotype. Did Wells and Wellington examine the types? I do not know, the point is before making the decision of a lectotype one must examine the type material. In fact no taxonomic paper should be published without examination of the types.
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Specimen is an E. macquarii. |
Specimen is an E. victoriae. |
The result of this action is that based on Wells and Wellington (1985) Emydura victoriae is now a junior synonym of Emydura macquarii (Iverson et. al., 2001). What can be done about this, well setting of types is what nomenclature is based upon so this is actually not easy to undo. A submission must be made to the ICZN asking them to set aside Wells and Wellington's lectotype in favour of the other specimen. Only the ICZN can make this decision. In the meantime, we can carry on and use the names as we always have, so no one should read this paper as "you cannot use the name E. victoriae".
The objective of this short essay is not to berrate Wells and Wellington but to point out that taxonomy needs to be taken seriously, it needs to be done properly. Types must be examined. So if anyone wished to describe a species, examine all available types, you do not want to describe something that already has a name, albeit a forgotten one. Second you do not want to accidently sink a species. As has been done here.
References:
Iverson, J.B., Thomson, S.A. and Georges, A. (2001). Validity of taxonomic changes for turtles proposed by Wells and Wellington. Journal of Herpetology. 35(3):361-368
Wells, R. W. and Wellington, C. R. 1985. A classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology (Supplementary Series) 1:1-61.