Chelonia mydas ( Linnaeus 1758:197 )

Iverson, John B., 2022, A review of Chelonian type specimens (order Testudines), Megataxa 7 (1), pp. 1-85 : 16-17

Chelonia mydas ( Linnaeus 1758:197)

Syntypes (at least 3): UPSZTY (NRM) 19, 26, and 231 ( Thunberg 1828:49); not UUZM 20 as stated by Stuart (1963:53), Cogger et al. (1983:69), and Smith & Smith (1980:269), which is a syntype of Psammobates geometricus but actually Geochelone elegans ( Wallin 1977:77- 78; 2001:126); UUZM 231 pictured in Wallin (1985:126). Bauer et al. (2013:312) reported an additional unnumbered syntype in the Museum of Palazzo Poggi, Bologna, Italy. NRM 5000, and 6880-82 are also possible syntypes according to Anders Rhodin (pers. comm.). Each of the confirmed, extant syntypes is identifiable as Caretta caretta sensu Boulenger (1889 ; Wallin 1985:121 and Wallin 2001:126), potentially creating a nomenclatural problem. However, Wallin (1985:122) believed that the concept of this species presented in Linnaeus (1754), with reference material in the Stockholm Museum of Natural History, is the correct one (i.e., that of Boulenger, 1889 and subsequent authors), and that this validates Linnaeus’ formal description in 1758. The ICZN will have to settle this complex problem. See also TTWG 2021:376, and Comment under Caretta caretta .

Testudo viridis Schneider 1783:299

Holotype: Not designated (according to Hirth 1980:1), but illustrated in the original description (Pl. opp. p. 364).

Testudo japonica Thunberg 1787:178

Holotype: Not designated (according to Hirth 1980:1), but illustrated in the original description (Pl. VII, Fig. 1) and listed by Thunberg (1828:49) in the UUZM; apparently lost since not listed by Wallin (2001), but possibly in the NRM ( Cogger et al. 1983:70).

Testudo marina vulgaris Lacepède 1788:54

Holotype: Not designated (according to Hirth 1980:1), but illustrated in the original description (opp. p. 54), possibly in the MNHN.

Testudo viridisquamosa Lacepède 1788:92

Holotype: Not designated (according to Hirth 1980:1), but possibly in the MNHN.

Testudo viridisquamosa Bonnaterre 1789: 20

Holotype: Not located, but possibly in the MNHN.

Testudo macropus Gmelin 1789:1038

Holotype: Not located, but illustrated in Edwards (1751:Pl. 206, top) and Seligmann (1764:Pl. C1, top)

Testudo chloronotus Bechstein 1800:107

Holotype: Not located. Testudo rugosa Daudin 1801:37

Holotype: Not designated (according to Hirth 1980:1); but possibly in the MNHN according to Cogger et al. (1983:70).

Testudo cepediana Daudin 1801:50

Holotype: Not designated (according to Hirth 1980:1), but figured in the original description (Pl. XVII, Fig. 1).

Chelonia virgata Schweigger 1812: 291

Syntypes (6): MNHN 7900, 7914, 7915, 8014, 9376, and 9539 ( Ceríaco & Bour 2012:19).

Caretta cepedii Merrem 1820:18

Holotype: Not designated ( Hirth 1980:1).

Caretta esculenta Merrem 1820:18

Holotype: Not designated ( Hirth 1980:1).

Chelonia castanea Eschscholtz 1829:11

Syntypes (3): Originally in the MZT, but transferred to the ZMMU, and now lost (Flores-Villela 2016:158) .

Chelonia grisea Eschscholtz 1829:13

Holotype: Originally in the MZT, but transferred to the ZMMU, and now lost (Flores-Villela 2016:158).

Chelonia lachrymata Cuvier 1829: 13

Holotype: Not located; possibly in the MNHN ( Hirth 1980:1).

Chelonia maculosa Cuvier 1829: 13

Holotype: Not located; possibly in the MNHN ( Hirth 1980:1).

Chelonia bicarinata Lesson 1831: 301

Holotype: Not located; possibly in the MNHN ( Hirth 1980:1).

Chelonia marmorata Duméril & Bibron 1835:546

S yntypes (2): MNHN 7878 ( Hirth 1980:1) and 9535 (listed as type in MNHN catalog; see Cogger et al. 1983:70).

Chelonia formosa Girard 1858:456

Holotype: USNM 257183 (formerly USNM Osteo 12386; Cochran 1961:228; Reynolds et al. 2007:10).

Chelonia tenius Girard 1858:459

Holotype: USNM 257184 (formerly USNM Osteo 12390; Cochran 1961:228; Reynolds et al. 2007:10).

Chelonia albiventer Nardo 1864:1420

Holotype: MSNVE unnumbered ( Hirth 1980:1).

Chelonia agassizii Bocourt, 1868:122

Holotype: MNHN 9537 (photographed in Bour 2006b:20), illustrated in Duméril & Bocourt (1870:Pl. VI), and reproduced in Bour (2006b:19). Stuart (1963:50) erroneously listed MNHN 1871 and 1872 as syntypes (repeated by Cogger et al. 1983:70, and King & Burke 1989:19), and reported them missing. P.H. Dutton (in Bour 2006b:20) took tissues samples from the holotype for genetic analysis.

Chelonia maculata Lidth de Jeude in Gray 1873: 94

Holotype: BMNH 1867.4 .2.186.

Chelonia picta Lidth de Jeude in Gray 1873: 95

Holotype: BMNH 1866.8 .14.236.

Chelonia lata Philippi 1887:84

Syntypes (3): MNHNC unnumbered, apparently lost ( Ortiz & Nuñez 1986); MNHNC 100201 erroneously listed as holotype by Hirth (1980:1).

Chelonia mydas carrinegra Caldwell 1962:4

Holotype: LACM 1696 ( Cogger et al. 1983:71); paratypes (4), LACM 1697, 1690, and 1700; UF 16789 ( Gilbert 1974:117).