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Comment on the proposed conservation of the specific names of Hydrosaurus gouldii 
Gray, 1838 (currently Varanus gouldii) and Varanus panoptes Storr, 1980 (Reptilia, 
Squamata) by the designation of a neotype for H. gouldii 
(Case 3042: see BZN 54: 95-99) 
D.R. King 
Departtnent of Terrestrial Vertebrates, Western Australian Museum, Francis Street, 
Perth, Western Australia 6000, Australia 
I am writing in support of the proposal by Dr R.G. Sprackland, Prof H.M. Smith 
and Dr P.D. Strimple for the conservation of the specific names of Varanus gouldii 
(Gray. 1838) and V. panoptes Storr, 1980. 
I believe that their case was very well put and their suggested solution would be of 
great benefit in clarifying what is currently an awkward matter. I have written a 
number of scientific papers and one book on members ( Varanus gouldii, V. panoptes 
and V. rosenbergi) of what was formerly known as a single species, V. gouldii. In all 
of these I have followed the nomenclature of Cogger (1992) and feel this is 
250 Bulletin ot Zoological Nomenclature 54(4) December 1997 
appropriate because of the almost universal acceptance of these specific names in 
their accustomed senses. 
I believe that the confusion that has resulted from the publication by Bohme 
(1991), which was correct under the Code, in the naming of animals within this 
species complex would be solved by accepting the proposal of Sprackland et al. and 
that their suggested solution would meet with general approval by herpetologists. I 
fully support their suggested course of action. 
Comments on the proposed conservation of the specific name of Varanus teriae 
Sprackland. 1991 (Reptilia, Squamata) 
(Case 3043; see BZN 54: 100-103) 
(1) L.B. Holthuis 
Nationaal Natuurhistoriscli Museum, Poslhus 95 J 7. 2300 RA Leiden, 
The Netherlands 
I am much surprised to find in the Bulletin a request to conserve a name less than 
six years old by suppression of a synonym six years older. The application makes 
admirably clear that there is no doubt that Varanus teriae Sprackland, 1991 and 
Odatria keitlihornei Wells & Wellington, 1985 are objective synonyms as they both 
are based on the same holotype specimen. As far as I can see the only reason for 
suppression of the older name is that its publication was obscure, but through all the 
publicity it now receives, it is not so any longer. Of course it is to be regretted that 
the authors of the older name took so little trouble to publicise the results of their 
research; judging by the application their (1985a) publication is virtually unknown. 
The facts that the two names were both availably published, that their synonymy 
is not in any doubt, and that this synonymy has existed for only six years, in my view 
make it entirely illogical that the older of the two names should be suppressed. In six 
years a name cannot become so generally accepted that its replacement would be a 
disaster. 
The Commission should judge the case on its own merits, and not be influenced 
that the authors of the older name. Wells & Wellington, have previously been the 
subject of a nomenclatural controversy. 
(2) R.G. Sprackland 
Young Forest Company, 951 Old County Road Suite 134. Belmont. 
California 94002, U.S.A. 
H.M. Smith 
Department oj Environmental. Population and Organismic Biology, 
University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0334. U.S.A. 
P.D. Strimple 
Reptile Research and Breeding Facility. 5310 Sultana Drive. Cincinnati. Ohio 45238, 
USA. 
Professor Holthuis is opposed (above) to our application to conserve the specific 
name of Varanus teriae Sprackland, 1991 on the grounds that the name has been in