TAXONOMIC AND NOMENCLATURAL STATUS OF HOMOPUS SIGNATUS (GMELIN, 1789): REPTILIA—CHELONII

Abstract

Taxonomic and nomenclatural status of Homopus signatus (Gmelin, 1798). Homopus signatus, the dwarf speckled land tortoise from South Africa, includes two subspecies (Boycott, 1986). The nominate form, Homopus signatus signatus was first described by Walbaum (1782) and nomenclaturally validated by Gmelin (1789), i.e. 12 years before Schoepff (1801); identifying features mainly consist of raised dorsal shields with impressed areolae and strongly serrated rear marginal shields. The type locality is here designated as the vicinity of Springbok, Cape Province. The southern subspecies, mainly distinguished by the smoother dorsal shields and the poorly serrated rear margin, is here called Homopus signatus cafer, from the nominal species Testudo cafra described by Daudin in 1801; the type locality is here designated as the drainage of the Olifant's River, Cape Province. Type specimens of both taxa are identified and presented.