The valid scientific names of the barred grass snake and its subspecies from mainland Italy and Sicily

Abstract

To stabilize current nomenclature, Coluber helveticus Lacepède, 1789 and Coluber siculus Cuvier, 1829 are qualified as nomina protecta to ensure the usage of the established names Natrix helvetica (Lacepède, 1789) and Natrix helvetica sicula (Cuvier, 1829) for the barred grass snake. For the same reason, Coluber bipes Gmelin, 1789, Coluber tyrolensis Gmelin, 1789 and Coluber scopolianus Daudin, 1803, all with type locality Dolomiti di Fiemme (Italy), are declared as nomina oblita according to Article 23.9 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999). Coluber helveticus Lacepède, 1789 was originally introduced as a replacement name for Coluber vulgaris Razoumowsky, 1789 (type locality: Jorat, Switzerland). However, the latter name becomes a junior secondary homonym of Natrix vulgaris Laurenti, 1768 when transferred to the genus Natrix and thus, according to Articles 57 and 59 of the Code, invalid and does not threaten the usage of Natrix helvetica for the barred grass snake.