Kalyptoidy: the nomenclatural status of new zoological nomina originally published as synonyms, with examples in herpetology and comments on taxonominal databases

The Rules provided by the Code for the nomenclatural status of nomina originally published as invalid synonyms of nomina considered valid are complex, and often ignored or misunderstood by taxonomists. A detailed analysis of these Rules is presented and a terminology is proposed for the categories of nomina. The actual implementation of these Rules is studied in 121 examples in amphibians and reptiles and in two herpetological databases, and warnings are given concerning the reliability of the latter. A few changes are recommended in the wording of Article 11.6.1 of the Code.