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A recent revision of the anacondas (Serpentes: Boidae: Eunectes), with the description of a new species of green anaconda, generated extensive publicity, but also provoked considerable controversy due to inadequacies of the evidence used and errors in nomenclature. We here use the case of this problematic publication to: (i) highlight common issues affecting species delimitations, especially an over-reliance on mitochondrial DNA data, and reiterate best practices; (ii) reanalyse the data available for anacondas to establish the true current state of knowledge and to highlight lines of further research; and (iii) analyse the nomenclatural history and status of the genus. While our analysis reveals significant morphological variation in both green and yellow anacondas, denser sampling and an analysis of informative nuclear markers are required for meaningful species delimitation in Eunectes. Tracing the history of name-bearing types establishes Trinidad as the type locality for Boa murina Linnaeus, 1758 and allows identification of the extant lectotype for the species. Finally, we emphasize the responsibility of both journals and authors to ensure that published taxonomic work meets the burden of evidence required to substantiate new species descriptions and that species are named in compliance with the rules of zoological nomenclature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two decades ago, a decision of the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature was made to set aside the types of the southwest African sand lizard Pedioplanis undata (A. Smith, 1838) and to designate a neotype to maintain nomenclatural stability. Both the application and the subsequent decision were published in a short way in the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature without any pictorial documentation. To rectify this omission, and to make the decision of that time comprehensible, the relevant figures of the specimens involved are presented here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the possibility that the Tongan Ground Skink, believed to be extinct, may still exist in Tonga. The skink is only known through two specimens held in a museum in Paris. The authors suggest that the skink may survive on less degraded islands and propose using information on similar lizards from the Caribbean to define potential habitats. The article provides historical information about the collection of the specimens and describes the current state of Tongatapu Island. It also discusses the nomenclatural history of the skink and its relationship to other lizard species. The text emphasizes the importance of not prematurely declaring a species extinct and highlights the need for local involvement in conservation decisions. The document includes acknowledgments, references, and correspondence related to the scientific manuscript. [Extracted from the article]