Ablepharus pannonicus ( Lichtenstein, 1823:103 )

Wagner, Philipp, Bauer, Aaron M., Leviton, Alan E., Wilms, Thomas M. & Böhme, Wolfgang, 2016, A Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Afghanistan *, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 63 (13), pp. 457-565 : 500

Ablepharus pannonicus ( Lichtenstein, 1823:103)

1823 Scincus pannonicus Lichtenstein, M.C.H., Verzeichniss der Doubletten des zoologischen Museums der königlichen Universität zu Berlin nebst Beschreibung vieler bisher unbekannter Arten von Säugethieren, Vögeln, Amphibien und Fischen. Königlich Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften, T. Trautwein, Berlin, Prussia [now Germany]. x + 118 pp., 1 pl.

SYNTYPES.— ZMB 1346 [two specimens], from “Bucharia” [= Bukhoro , Uzbekistan] .

SYNONYMS.— Blepharosteres agilis Stoliczka, 1872 (syntypes ZSI 5407 , NMW 16237 ) from “S. W. of Kálábágh [in North-West Frontier Province, northern Pakistan]”.

LOCALITIES.— Ajdaha, near Bamiyan (MNHN 1948.171–73); Bamian (MZLU L957/3048); Espisevarz (MZLU L962/3167); 72 km S Herat (CAS 120480); 36 km S Kabul, on rd to Kandahar (CAS 91610–11); Masgid-i-ciovi [= Masjed-e Chubi], Campo 2 (MZUF 24153); Obeh (MZLU L957/3049); Orozgon (MZLU L960/3041); Oubeh [= Obeh] (MZLU L962/3169); Pandjab, Decht Ghoudjour (MZLU L962/3168); 2 km NW Panjoa (CAS 147409–15); Qual’eh Chahrak [= Hezaradjat?] (NMW 15883); Qual èh Nou (MZLU L957/3047); Urgun [Paktita Prov., 2500 m] (ZFMK 8557–8) [see pl. 9, fig. 7 for distribution].

REMARKS.— Nearly two centuries of confusion have surrounded the application and authorship of this name. Bauer et al. (2003) summarized the issues involved in detail. Although sometimes attributed to Fitzinger (1824) or Fitzinger in Lichtenstein (1823) (e.g., Anderson 1999), it is clear that Lichtenstein, although using Fitzinger’s manuscript name (not published until the following year), based his description on material representing a different species than that intended by Fitzinger. Thus, although Fitzinger coined the specific epithet, Lichtenstein alone must be credited as the author of Scincus pannonicus .

Boulenger (1889: 100) mentioned one specimen as “ Ablepharus brandtii ” from “on the Helmand ” .