en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_snake
2 corrections found
Lacépède, 1788
The authority year for Lampropeltis triangulum is 1789, not 1788.
Full reasoning
Major taxonomic references list the species as Lampropeltis triangulum (Lacépède, 1789), not 1788. ITIS explicitly notes that 1788 is a common miscitation and explains why: Lacepède's snakes were published in volume 2 (1789), not in the 1788 volume. The Reptile Database also uses 1789 for both the species name and the original combination Coluber triangulum.
Because the article gives "Lacépède, 1788" for this taxon, that date is incorrect.
2 sources
- ITIS - Report: Lampropeltis triangulum
Lampropeltis triangulum (Lacépède, 1789) ... Comment: The correct publication date for this name is 1789 and not 1788 as often seen cited by several workers.
- The Reptile Database - Lampropeltis triangulum
Lampropeltis triangulum (LACÉPÈDE, 1789) ... Synonym Coluber triangulum LACÉPÈDE 1789: 86
24 subspecies, see text
Current taxonomic references do not recognize 24 valid subspecies of Lampropeltis triangulum; that count is outdated.
Full reasoning
The infobox presents "24 subspecies" as the current subspecies count, but current authoritative taxonomic sources do not support that.
- The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service taxonomic tree for Lampropeltis triangulum shows Subspecies: 0 under the species.
- The Reptile Database lists only two subspecies under Lampropeltis triangulum: L. t. syspila and L. t. triangulum.
Taxonomic treatments differ on the exact modern arrangement, but these current references agree that 24 is not the accepted present-day count. So presenting the species as having 24 subspecies is outdated and misleading.
2 sources
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Explore the Taxonomic Tree
Branches of Lampropeltis triangulum ... Subspecies 0
- The Reptile Database - Lampropeltis triangulum
Subspecies Lampropeltis triangulum syspila (COPE 1889) Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum (LACÉPÈDE 1789)