A synopsis of the lizards of the sexlineatus group (genus Cnemidophorus). Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 123, article 3

p. 159-210, [8] p. of plates : ill., maps ; 27 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 207-210)."The lizards of the sexlineatus species group constitute the largest group within the genus Cnemidophorus and occupy the greatest geographic area, from Honduras to Maryland and westward to Arizona and northern Baja California. The taxonomic arrangement of the lizards of this group that has been developing over the 30 years since Burt (1931a) placed all forms described in two species (one with three subspecies) reveals a far more complicated situation than earlier authors appreciated. Within approximately the last decade, the application of more refined methods of study, together with a knowledge of the appearance of the animals in life and of their ecology, has greatly increased the understanding of variation and distribution. In the present report we recognize 17 species and 31 forms. The impetus for the preparation of the present report was provided by the discovery that one of the oldest, hence taxonomically most important, names in the genus, sackii Wiegmann, 1834, was misapplied. A simple shift of names or an application to the International Commission for conservation of names would scarcely remedy the situation satisfactorily, for a number of distinct species and subspecies would still remain buried in synonymy. This report, then, establishes the true identity of Cnemidophorus sacki as the form previously called C. sacki australis and redistributes the forms recently assigned to C. sacki among seven species. The arrangement given is assuredly not final, but it provides a working basis for future studies. With future workers in mind, we draw attention throughout this paper to the outstanding problems and point out where, particularly in the field, effort most profitably can be expended. We realize, however, that our colleagues may come, with Shakespeare, to feel that ''Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind' (King Lear)"--P. 207