Etymology of nomina of Amphibians and Reptiles of the French Antilles

Abstract

We provide a catalogue of 41 genus substantives and 110 species or subspecies epithets of amphibians and reptiles of the French Antilles, with presentation of some nomenclatural consequences that result from our observations, especially for Dryophytes squirella, Iguana rhinolophus, Pholidoscelis cineraceus and Pholidoscelis plei analifer. In order to solve some nomenclatural cases, we had to resort to 9 Articles of the Code (11.3, 28, 30.1.3, 30.1.4.2, 31.2.3, 33.3.1, 51.3, 51.3.1, 58) and to 21 technical nomenclatural terms. Once again, this highlights the fact that nomenclatural problems concerning ancient nomina cannot be properly dealt with in a hurry and without a good, but also critical, knowledge of the Code, and that the use of a more detailed terminology than that of the Code facilitates such a work.