ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Herpetozoa Jahr/Year: 2000 Band/Volume: 13_1_2 Autor(en)/Author(s): Das Indraneil, Gemel Richard Artikel/Article: Nomenclatural status of Fitzinger's (1861) Pseudocalotes archiducissae, and confirmation of Bronchocela cristatella (Kuhl, 1820) from the Nicobar Archipelago (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae). 55-58 ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at HERPETOZOA 13 (1/2): 55 - 58 55 Wien, 30. Juni 2000 Nomenclatural status of FITZINGER'S (1861) Pseudocalotes archiducissae, and confirmation of Bronchocela cristatella (KUHL, 1820) from the Nicobar Archipelago (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae) Nomenklatorischer Status von FITZINGERS (1861) Pseudocalotes archiducissae, und Bestätigung von Bronchocela cristatella (KUHL, 1820) für die Nikobaren (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae) INDRANEIL DAS & RICHARD GEMEL KURZFASSUNG Das während der Reise der österreichischen Fregatte 'Novara' von den Nikobaren aufgesammelte Agamen- material, auf das FlTZINGER (1861) Pseudocalotes archiducissae begründete, wurde in der Herpetologischen Samm- lung des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien aufgefunden. Es wird gezeigt, daß dieser Name ein nomen nudum dar- stellt. Die von STEINDACHNER (1861) festgestellte Identität von P. archiducissae und B. cristatella (KUHL, 1820) wird bestätigt und folglich auch das Vorkommen dieser Art auf dem Insel archipel der Nikobaren (Indien). ABSTRACT The specimens of agamid lizards collected from the Nicobar Islands during the voyage of the Austrian fregate 'Novara', on which FÏTZINGER (1861) based Pseudocalotes archiducissae, were found extant in the collection of the Museum of Natural History in Vienna; the name is shown to be a nomen nudum. The identities of P. archiducissae and Bronchocela cristatella (KUHL, 1820) as evaluated by STEINDACHNER (1861), were verified. This report con- firms the presence of B. cristatella from the Nicobars Archipelago, India. KEY WORDS Reptilia, Sauna, Agamidae; Pseudocalotes archiducissae, Bronchocela cristatella, distribution, nomen- clature, taxonomy, Nicobar Archipelago, India The name Pseudocalotes archiducis- considered B. danieli (TIWARI & BISWAS, sae appears for the first time in a list of 1973) to be a valid taxon. Given that two mammals and reptiles collected during the species of the genus are reported as sym- voyage of the Austrian fregate, 'Novara', patrie on the Nicobars, and the fact that B. around the world, authored by FITZINGER cristatella has not been recorded from ("I860": 387 and 398, although published these islands in recent years (DAS 1999), a in 1861). GANS (1955) provided an itiner- note verifying the systematic status of P. ary of the voyage of the 'Novara'. The archiducissae and reporting on the discov- taxon was subsequently considered a syno- ery of the so-named lost specimens at the nym of Bronchocela cristatella (KUHL, Natural History Museum, Vienna (NMW), 1820) by STEINDACHNER (1867: 27), who was thought important, provided diagnostic characters of the pur- Interest in the herpetofauna of the ported new taxon. SMITH (1935: 184), too, Nicobar Archipelago was to be spurred treated the Nicobarese species tentatively as nearly a century later by the collections by synonymous with B. cristatella, mention- the staff of the Zoological Survey of India ing that the type of the former was lost, as (ZSI) in the 1960s, leading to a large num- did WERMUTH (1967) and BARTS & WILMS ber of species descriptions. These included (1997: 64.1), although no worker subse- an agamid, collected from the Nicobars and quently appears to have tried to trace the described as Calotes danieli TIWARI & Bis- material. BARTS & WILMS (1997: 66.1) WAS, 1973. However, no further specimens ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at 56 INDRANEIL DAS & RICHARD GEMEL of B. cristate lla were reported from these an examination of the NMW specimens, in islands. Few subsequent workers have had order to verify their identity. The absence access to either the specimens of Pseudo- of a dark temporal patch, relatively slender calotes archiducissae FiTZlNGER (1861) or head (head length > head width), fifth toe the unique holotype of Calotes danieli > fourth finger, reduced midbody scale TTWARI & BISWAS, 1973. Following MOODY rows (numbering 68 and 71), and weakly (1980), DIONG & LIM (1998) transferred developed dorsal crest (extending to the the latter taxon to the genus Bronchocela level of the forearm), indicate that these KAUP, 1827, presumably based on its mor- specimens (fig. 1) refer to Bronchocela phological similarities to B. cristatella, di- cristatella (KUHL, 1820). viding the catchall genus Calotes CUVIER, Pseudocalotes archiducissae is not 1817 (sensu BOULENGER 1885) in different an available name (in the sense of Article genera. The holotype of Calotes danieli is 11.6; INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON extant in the collection of the Zoological ZOOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE, 1999), there Survey of India, Calcutta (ZSI 22455 from being no formal description. The only text "Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar"; DAS et al. which attempts to briefly describe the types 1998), while two specimens labelled was that of STEINDACHNER (1967), who clearly synonymises it under Calotes Calotes cristatellus rect. cristatellus (KUHL, 1820). No subsequent Pseudocalotes archiducissae FlTZ. works have treated the name as valid. Nikobaren 1857-59 Novara exp. Thus, Pseudocalotes archiducissae FlTZIN- were found to be extant in the NMW col- GER, "1860" 1861, is confirmed to be a lection (NMW 21002: 1-2), as ethanol pre- nomen nudum, as well as a junior synonym served specimens. The syntypes of Agama of B. cristatella (KUHL, 1820). cristatella KUHL, 1820, of unknown prove- Calotes cristatellus has been reported nance, which were reportedly "in Museo from the Nicobar Islands by SMITH (1935) Parisiensi" according to the original de- and by more recent workers (e. g., BISWAS scription, were not located in the Museum & SANYAL 1980), although no examples National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris have been collected from these islands, ex- (MNHN) (BRYGOO, 1988), but MNHN cept for a single unverified specimen at the 6884 (three syntypes) carry data suggesting Zoologisk Museum, Kgbenhavns Univer- that these were materials upon which KUHL sitet, Copenhagen, Denmark, that was re- based his name. These three syntypes ported to be the present species (SMITH match the description of Bronchocela 1935). The Nicobars Archipelago is in- cristatella. cluded in the range of the species by DIONG The systematic status of Pseudoca- & LIM (1998), probably following the ex- lotes archiducissae was evaluated through isting literature. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks are due to R. BOUR, Museum National Field work in the Nicobar Islands was supported d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN); J. R. ALFRED, S. by the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the Centre for Island K. CHANDA and B. DATTAGUPTA, Zoological Survey of Ecology, Centre for Herpetology. HARRY ANDREWS India, Calcutta (ZSI) and F. TlEDEMANN, Naturhistoiri- provided support, and SATISH BHASKAR aided field sches Museum, Wien (NMW), for permission, facilities work. Permission to conduct research in the Andaman and/or information concerning specimens under their and Nicobar Islands was provided by the Andaman and care. A. M. BAUER, P. DAVID and H. M. SMITH pro- Nicobar Forest Department Manuscript preparation was vided literature and information. supported by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. REFERENCES BARTS, M. & WILMS, T. (Eds). (1997): Cata- BOULENGER, G. A. (1885): Catalogue of the liz- logue of valid species and synonyms. Volume 4. Agami- ards in the British Museum (Natural History). I. Geck- dae. Bredell (Herprint International), i-xl; 1.1-1.418.1. onidae (sic), Eublepharidae, Uroplatidae, Pygopodidae, BISWAS, S. & SANYAL, D. P. (1980): A report on Agamidae. London (British MuseumX xii + 436 pp; 32 pL the Reptilia fauna of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in BRYGOO, E. R. (1988): Les types d'Agamidés the collection of Zoological Survey of India.- Ree. Zool. (Reptiles, Sauriens) du Muséum national d'Histoire na- Surv. India, Calcutta; 77: 255-292. turelle Catalogue critique.- Bull. Mus. NaL d'Hist ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Pseudocalotes archiducissae FTrziNGER, 1861, and Bronchocela cristatella (KÜHL, 1820) 57 Fig. 1: One of two specimens (NMW 21002: 1) on which FrrziNOER (1861) based Pseudocalotes archiducissae nomen nudum. Lateral view (left) and dorsal view (right). Photographs by A. SCHUMACHER, Natural History Museum, Vienna. Abb. 1: Eines der beiden Exemplare (NMW 21002: IX auf die FlTZINGER (1861) sein nomen nudum Pseudocaloles archiducissae begründete. Lateralansicht (links) und Dorsalansicht (rechts). Fotos: A. SCHUMACHER, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien. ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at 58 INDRANEIL DAS & RICHARD GEMEL nat, Paris; sér. 4 sec. A (Zool., Biol. Écol. anim.) 10 (3) International Union of Biological Sciences, London (The suppl.: 1-S6. International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature 1999), DAS, I. (1999): Biogeography of the herpeto- XXLX + 306pp. fauna of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; pp. 43-77. KUHL, H. (1820): Beitrage zur Zoologie und In: OTA, H. (Ed): Tropical island herpetofauna. origin, Vergleichenden