Stellio' in Herpetology and a Comment on the Nomenclature and Taxonomy of Agamids of the Genus Agama (Sensu Lato) (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae)
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©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at HERPETOZOA 8 (1/2): 3 - 9 Wien, 30. Juli 1995 A brief review of the origin and use of 'stellio' in herpetology and a comment on the nomenclature and taxonomy of agamids of the genus Agama (sensu lato) (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae) Kurzübersicht über die Herkunft und Verwendung von "stellio" in der Herpetologie und Kommentar zur Nomenklatur und Taxonomie von Agamen, Gattung Agama (sensu lato) (Squamata: Sauria: Agamidae) KLAUS HENLE ABSTRACT The name 'stellio' has received a wide and variable application in herpetology. Its use antedates modern nomenclature. The name was applied mainly to various agamid and gekkonid species. In modern usage, confu- sion exists primarily with its use as a genus, i. e., Siellio. To solve this problem, STEJNEGER (1936) desig- nated Siellio saxatilis of LAURENTI, 1768 which is based on a figure in SEBA (1734) as the type species. This species is unidentifiable. In an unpublished thesis, MOODY (1980) split the genus Agama (s. 1.) into six genera. He overlooked STEJNEGER's (1936) designation and reused Stellio for the stellio-group of agamid lizards. Many authors followed MOODY (1980). Recently, some authors pointed out that Siellio is unavailable but did not fully dis- cuss the implications for agamid nomenclature. It is argued that a satisfactory nomenclature is difficult with current knowledge of agamid taxonomy. It is suggested to restrict Laudakia to L. tuberculata and to use Ploce- denna for the stellio-group (sensu stricto). KURZFASSUNG Der Name "stellio" sah eine breite und vielfältige Verwendung in der Herpetologie, die weit über die moderne Nomenklatur zurückreicht. Vorwiegend wurden mit diesem Namen verschiedene Gecko-Arten und Agamen der Gattung Agama (sensu lato) bezeichnet. Verwirrung entstand bezüglich der korrekten Verwendung als Gattungsname. Zur Lösung der Probleme designierte STEJNEGER (1936) Stellio saxatilis LAURENTI, 1768 als Typusart, ein auf einer Abbildung von SEBA (1734) basierendes, nicht identifizierbares Taxon. In einer unveröffentlichten Doktorarbeit unterteilte MOODY (1980) die Gattung Agama (s. 1.) in sechs eigenständige Gattungen. Er übersah STEJNEGER's (1936) Festlegung der Species typica und brachte Stellio wieder in Gebrauch für Agamen der stellio-Gruppe. Viele Autoren folgten ihm. Nur vereinzelt haben Autoren darauf hingewiesen, daß Siellio nicht verfügbar ist, aber die Konsequenzen für die Nomenklatur von Agamen unvollständig diskutiert. Es wird aufgezeigt, daß beim gegenwärtigen Wissensstand der Taxonomie von Aga- men eine befriedigende Nomenklatur schweirig ist. Als Vorschlag wird unterbreitet, den Gebrauch des Gat- tungsnamens Laudakia auf L. tuberculata zu beschränken und den Namen Plocedenna für die stellio-Gruppe im engeren Sinne zu verwenden. KEYWORDS Stellio: availabilty, type species; Agama, Laudakia, Plocedenna: nomenclature, taxonomy, phylogeny THE USE OF 'STELLIO' IN HERPETOLOGY The name 'stellio' is one of the oldest ANANJEVA & al. 1990; CORBETT 1990; vernacular names known for any lizard. It JOGER 1991). Few authors differ: AR- has received a widespread and varying ap- NOLD (1986) retains the genus Agama plication both in pre-Linnean and post-Lin- (sensu lato) but recognized Stellio as a sub- nean times. Currently, most authors use genus. BAIG & BÖHME (1991) also use the generic name Stellio for agamids of the Agama (s. 1.); they point out that Stellio is stellio-group of the formerly more inclu- not available as a generic name. LEVITON sive genus Agama (e. g., SCHÄTTI 1989; & al. (1992) also briefly state that Stellio ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at K. HENLE is unavailable but suggest to call agamids According to ARISTODELES, the of the stellio-group Laudakia. They are animals in question which he called followed by others (e. g., FRANZEN & 'ascalabotes' live primarily in Thrace and SCHMIDTLER 1993). As none of these Nikandro but also in Sicily. He, and PLI- authors explain in detail why the name is NIUS, regard their biology as considerably unavailable and only partly discuss the en- different in the two areas; e. g., they be- suing consequences, it is of general lieve that Greek animals are harmless but interest to briefly review the use of the Italian ones are venomous. The mentioned name stellio. The more so, as BAIG & Greek area is outside the current distribu- BÖHME (1991) and LEVITON & al. tion of T. mauritanica (RIEPPEL 1981) (1992) arrive at different conclusions. and all other geckos except of Cyrtopodion The name 'stellio' has a Latin origin kotschyi (see BÖHME 1981). It is partly and appeared for the first time in the Latin covered by the range of Agama stellio literature around the first century a. d. (BEUTLER 1981). In Sicily, only geckos (BYL 1986, 1987). Most etymologists are found. Above arguments demonstrate agree that the animals in question were that geckos must have been included in the named 'stellio' because of their colour name 'stellio1, and that it is likely that pattern resembling stars, though other ex- agamids were included as well. planations exist (e. g., SCHNEIDER The continued confusion of geckos [1811] believes that 'stellio' alludes to and agamids into the post-Linnean time dorsal tubercles in addition to white spots; adds support for this hypothesis: e. g., RA- see also BYL [1987]). Philologists discuss FINESQUE-SCHMALTZ (1810) names T. at length the possible idendity of the ani- mauritanica from Segesta, Sicilly, Agama mals and arrive at different conclusions. scarpina. Nevertheless, it is very likely Whereas some argue that scorpions are the that PLINIUS is talking mainly about appropriate candidates others regard lizards geckos as he knows that ' stelliones' eat and generally geckos as the correct animals their own slough and informs us that the (see LEITNER 1972; BYL 1987 - and lit- slough was used as a remedy against erature cited therein). Etymological expla- epilepsy. He also writes that the animals nations are generally neglected in attempts are found mainly on doors and windows of to identify the animals in question. buildings and in graveyards - common Most philologists use PLINIUS as habitats of T. mauritanica in southern Eu- the prime source of information about rope (HENLE - pers. observ.); only grave- 'stellio' as do later zoologists (e. g., GES- yards would be possible habitats of A. NER 1554; PAOLI 1771; CETTI 1777; stellio. Also, PLINIUS lived predomi- SCHNEIDER 1811; BONAPARTE 1835; nantly in southern Italy and thus his per- DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1836). These zo- sonal experience must relate mainly to ologists agree that PLINIUS called geckos T. mauritanica. 'stellio' while the Greek folk used the Confusion surrounding the correct name 'ascalabotes' for these reptiles. Most use of stellio in modern nomenclature of these zoologists, though not all, also starts right from the beginning. LIN- believe that the species in question is Ta- NAEUS (1758) uses stellio as the specific rentola mauritanica. Their arguments are epithet of his Lacerta stellio. While there based on the use of the name 'stellio' in never has been any doubt that his L. stellio concurrent vernacular language. Latins and refers to the European agamid species A. people in many places in Toscany called [s. 1.] stellio, trouble begins with LAU- geckos 'stellio'. Rural Sards called geckos RENTI's (1768) introduction of Stellio as •pistilloni* (CETTI 1777). Currently, 'lo a generic name. He includes eight species stellione' (and 'lo scarpino') is still used in his genus Stellio all based on figures by some Sicilians for T. mauritanica and descriptions of SEBA (1734). Creating (HENLE - unpubl. pers. experience). Stellio, LAURENTI deviated from his However, elsewhere in Italy, geckos usu- usual habit in the creation of new genera ally were called tarentola. by not using a specific name introduced by ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Stellio, agamid taxonomy and nomenclature LINNAEUS as a new generic name. In- to accommodate agamids of the stellio- stead, he omits L. stellio from his treatise. group. MOODY (1980) neither reviews This certainly fooled many modern au- the nomenclature of this or any of the thors. other five genera into which he splits LAURENTI (1768) does not desig- Agama s. I. nor formally diagnosed his nate a type species, and because of the lack genus Stellio. He and authors following of tautonymy, none could be fixed auto- him overlook STEJNEGER's type desig- matically. Of the eight species included in nation. Because of the continuing use of Stellio, one is a skink, 3 or 4 are varanids Stellio and the difficult accessability of (opinions differ on this point), and the re- SEBA (1734), it seems to be advisable to maining 3 to 4 remain unidentifiable (see include SEBA's description together with a STEJNEGER 1936). reprint of his figure (fig. 1): Stellio is commonly used by zoolo- 'Tecoixin, seu Lacerta saxatilis, spi- gists of the 18th and 19th century but nosa, cauda crassula. never in the sense of LAURENTI. Some Squamulae dilute cinereae, ex russo argue that the name Stellio applies to obumbratae, spinis horrent albicantibus, geckos and use it for various genera (e. g., quarum quaelibet è macula nigro-fusca, Gekko, Uroplatus) but do not include any tanquam basi, porrigitur. Neque spinis ca- of the species of LAURENTI's genus ret ipsum caput, nee femora. Cauda cras- Stellio. SCHNEIDER (1792, 1811) is the sula squamulis tenuibus, cinereo-luteis, prime advocate of this opinion (see above tantum vestitur. Quini sunt pedum postico- for further authors). In contrast to rum digiti, anticorum quaterni. In locis sa- SCHNEIDER, LATREILLE (in SONNINI xosis Americae degit.' & LATREILLE 1801), DAUDIN (1802), As can be seen from this description MERREM (1820), and WAGLER (1830) and the accompanying figure (fig. 1), the apply Stellio to various agamids (mainly name cannot be attributed to any known Agama s. 1. but also Uromastyx). They species with certainty. Returning to my also do not include any of LAURENTI's earlier argument, I regard it as very likely (1768) taxa.