We present information on primary type specimens for 13,282 species and subspecies of reptiles compiled in the Reptile Database, that is, holotypes, neotypes, lectotypes, and syntypes. These represent 99.4% of all 13,361 currently recognized taxa (11,050 species and 2311 subspecies). Type specimens of 653 taxa (4.9%) are either lost or not located, were never designated, or we did not find any information about them. 51 species are based on iconotypes. To map all types to physical collections we have consolidated all synonymous and ambiguous collection acronyms into an unambiguous list of 364 collections holding these primary types. The 10 largest collections possess more than 50% of all (primary) reptile types, the 36 largest collections possess more than 10,000 types and the largest 73 collections possess over 90% of all types. Of the 364 collections, 107 hold type specimens of only 1 species or subspecies. Dozens of types are still in private collections. In order to increase their utility, we recommend that the description of type specimens be supplemented with data from high-resolution images and CT-scans, and clear links to tissue samples and DNA sequence data (when available). We request members of the herpetological community provide us with any missing type information to complete the list.

With the aim of establishing a reference for taxonomists, I describe and discuss characters of external morphology that have been used widely in descriptions of Anolis (sensu lato) species. For most characters, images are provided to illustrate the terms and definitions. Where appropriate, I give advice on how the counts and measurements should be done.

A new endemic species of Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from São Nicolau Island, Cabo Verde

We revise the frogs of the genus Raorchestes from Myanmar and Thailand based on data of external morphology, bioacoustics, and molecular genetics. The results of this integrative study provide evidence for the recognition of seven species, two of which we describe as new: Raorchestes mindat sp. nov. from Mindat District, Chin State, western Myanmar, and Raorchestes leiktho sp. nov. from Hpa-an District, Kayin State, southeastern Myanmar. The other species that we recognize in Myanmar and Thailand are R. cangyuanensis, R. huanglianshan, R. longchuanensis, R. menglaensis, and R. parvulus. We have compared the external morphology of the lectotype and four paralectotypes of Ixalus parvulus Boulenger, 1893 with the species of the Raorchestes parvulus group currently recognized from South-east Asia. Although the type series of Ixalus parvulus is morphologically most similar to specimens of R. cangyuanensis from Thailand, we refrain from formally synonymizing these two taxa until genetic data for I. parvulus are available that would allow this hypothesis to be tested. Thus, R. parvulus remains an enigmatic taxon still only known from the original type series. As now defined, R. cangyuanensis is distributed across most of Myanmar except for the Malayan Peninsula, and also in adjacent Yunnan Province, China, and adjacent northeastern Bangladesh. Raorchestes longchuanensis occurs in northwestern Thailand as well as in eastern Myanmar and western Yunnan, China. Raorchestes menglaensis ranges from southern Yunnan, China, across Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia to northern Western Malaysia. Raorchestes huanglianshan is distributed in southern Yunnan, China, and northwestern Thailand. Often two, at some places even three species of this genus occur sympatrically (e.g., R. leiktho sp. nov., R. longchuanensis and R. parvulus near Leiktho, Kayin State, Myanmar; R. longchuanensis and R. huanglianshan at Doi Inthanon). We provide new bioacoustic data for R. longchuanensis, R. menglaensis, and R. leiktho sp. nov., and compare these with data of R. cangyuanensis and R. rezakhani.

Based on two male and two female individuals, we describe a new genus and species of mud snake, Myanophis thanlyinensis gen. nov., sp. nov., from the vicinity of the campus of East Yangon University, Yangon, Thanlyin, Myanmar. This species differs from every other homalopsid species by the following combination of characters: (1) dorsal scales smooth, row formula 21–21–19 or 21–21–17; (2) tail short, ratio tail length/SVL 0.185–0.204 in males, 0.160–0.167 in females; (3) nasal scales separated; (4) 125–126 ventral scales in males, 120–122 in females; (5) 38–39 subcaudal scales in males, 32–34 in females; and (6) hemipenis bilobed. Its matrilineal genealogy (based on analyses of 16S and cytochrome b sequences), associates Myanophis thanlyinensis gen. nov., sp. nov. most closely with species of the genera Myrrophis and Gyiophis. The new taxon differs from the species of Myrrophis and Gyiophis by having a bilobed hemipenis (vs. unilobed). Myanophis thanlyinensis gen. nov., sp. nov. differs further from the species of Myrrophis by having 125–126 ventral scales in males and 120–122 in females (vs. 137–162 and 137–164, respectively), and 38–39 subcaudal scales in males and 32–34 in females (vs. 39–55 and 37–52, respectively). Myanophis thanlyinensis gen. nov., sp. nov. differs further from the species of Gyiophis by lacking dark blotches along flank (vs. present), and by having 21 dorsal scales rows at midbody (vs. 25). We provide an identification key to the homalopsid species known to occur in Myanmar. As a novelty to the classic holotype description and characterization, the individual has been genome sequenced by Illumina short-read technology and its genome has been assembled into a draft nuclear genome and a complete, annotated mitochondrial genome. This innovative approach comprehensively and permanently characterizes the genomic variation of the holotype.

A new species of toad, Bufo chavin, is described from two localities (3010 and 3070 m) from the eastern Andean slopes of central Peru (Departamento de Huánuco, Provincia de Pachitéa, Distrito de Chaglla) where it occurs sympatrically with Bufo spinulosus. Bufo chavin is referred to the Bufo veraguensis group. The new species differs from all members of this group by having large, elevated, elongate glands on each forearm and tibia, two large, elevated, elongate glands on the outer dorsal margin of each foot and one small, elevated gland on the outer dorsal margin of each hand. Eggs are relatively large, yolky and unpigmented in the new species. Se describe una nueva especie de sapo, Bufo chavin, procedente de dos localidades (3010 y 3070 m) en la vertiente oriental de los Andes del Perú central (Departamento de Huánuco, Provincia de Pachitéa, Distrito de Chaglla) donde se presenta simpátricamente con Bufo spinulosus. Bufo chavin es incluido al grupo Bufo veraguensis. La especie nueva difiere de t...