From Hoser, R. T. 2022.
The inevitable further break up of the monotypic Australian skink genus Saiphos Gray, 1831.
Australasian Journal of Herpetology 58:6-15.
Published 28 June 2022
Etymology: S. wellsi sp. nov. is named in honour of Australian
herpetologist, Richard Wells, recently of Lismore, New South
Wales, Australia, in recognition for his services to herpetology
and zoology globally, including his strong advocacy against
taxonomic vandalism as practiced by Welsh criminal Wolfgang
Wüster and his gang of thieves as detailed by Cogger (2014),
Hoser (2007, 2009, 2012a, 2012c, 2013, 2015a-f, 2017, 2019a,
2019b), Hawkeswood (2021), ICZN (1991, 2001, 2021) and
sources cited therein.
Besides the association of Richard Wells with the exact area this
species occurs, it is also noted that along with his colleague, Cliff
Ross Wellington, they formally named another species in this
complex, namely S. samueli Wells and Wellington, 1985 since
shown by Smith et al. (2001) using molecular techniques to be a
valid species-level taxon.
Richard Wells is also by far the largest ever benefactor with
respect of collecting and donating reptiles to the Australian
Museum in Sydney, having donated many thousands of
specimens to their priceless research collection spanning fulltime work over many decades.
He has received few if any accolades for this achievement.