Danny,
There is no official method of recognizing taxonomic changes. It really comes from how convincing evidence for the change is and the time needed to have such changes sink in.
I did a quick search on Zoological Record for
Phyllurus milli (the original name for the species);
Underwoodisaurus milii (which happened in the early 1960's); and
Nephrurus milii (as mentioned earlier, occurred in 1990). I've posted the papers below so you can see all of the titles. The following figure just shows the number of publications published each year grouped by generic name. You can see that use of
Phyllurus drops off in the in the early 1990's,
Underwoodisaurus use is pretty steady and
Nephrurus is in widespread use by the late 1990's.
Similarly, you can see that subsequent phylogentic analyises using molecular genetic data have confirmed that
N. milii is closely allied with other
Nephrurus species. This is using mitochondrial DNA data from Melville et al. 2004.
On a side note, herpetologist Garth Underwood has really gotten the short end of the stick. He has had two gecko genera named after him,
Garthia and
Underwoodisaurus, both of which have been subsumed into other genera,
Homonota and
Nephrurus respectively. Poor guy.
I hope this helps.
Tony
Here are the papers from Zoo. Record:
Nephrurus milii
Kearney M. 2001. Postural thermoregulatory behavior in the nocturnal lizards christinus marmoratus and nephrurus milii (gekkonidae). Herpetological Review 32(1), March 2001:11-14. 32(1):11-4.
Kearney M, Shine R, Comber S, Pearson D. 2001. Why do geckos group? an analysis of "social" aggregations in two species of australian lizards. Herpetologica 57(4), December 2001:411-422. 57(4):411-22.
Melville J, Schulte, James A.,: I.I., Larson A. 2004. A molecular study of phylogenetic relationships and evolution of antipredator strategies in australian diplodactylus geckos, subgenus strophurus. Biol J Linn Soc 82(1):123-38.
Read JL. 1998. Are geckos useful bioindicators of air pollution? Oecologia (Berlin) 114(2), April 1998:180-187. 114(2):180-7.
Rehorek SJ, Firth BT, Hutchison MN. 1997. Morphology of the harderian gland of some australian geckos. Journal of Morphology 231(3), March 1997:253-259. 231(3):253-9.
Shah B, Shine R, Hudson S, Kearney M. 2003. Sociality in lizards: Why do thick-tailed geckos (nephrurus milii) aggregate? Behaviour 140(8-9):1039-52.
Shah B, Hudson S, Shine R. 2006. Social aggregation by thick-tailed geckos (nephrurus milii, gekkonidae): Does scat piling play a role? Australian Journal of Zoology 54(4) 2006: 271-275. 54(4):271-5.
Shah B, Shine R, Hudson S, Kearney M. 2004. Experimental analysis of retreat-site selection by thick-tailed geckos nephrurus milii. Austral Ecol 29(5):547-52.
Underwoodisaurus milii
How RA, Dell J, Wellington BD. 1990. Reproductive and dietary biology of nephrurus and underwoodisaurus (gekkonidae) in western australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 14(4) 1990:449-459. 14(4):449-59.
Johnstone BM and Werner YL. 2001. Hearing in some australian geckos (reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonomorpha) as tested electrophysiologically. Herpetological Natural History 8(1) 2001:49-56. 8(1):49-56.
Kearney M and Downes S. 1998. Underwoodisaurus milii (thick-tailed gecko). cross predation. Herpetological Review 29(3), September 1998:169. 29(3):169.
Licht P. 1966. Reproduction in lizards: Influence of temperature of photoperiodism in testicular recrudescence. Science, N.Y.154 1966: 1668-1670. 154:1668-70.
Mawson PM. 1971. Pearson island expedition 1969.-8. helminths. R.Trans.R.Soc.S.Aust.95 1971: 169-183,. 95:169-83.
Menz MHM and Cullen PP. 2006. Occurrence of the barking gecko underwoodisaurus milii (bory 1825) (gekkonidae) in the pilbara region, western australia. J R Soc W A 89(2):89-90.
Sass S. 2003. Observations of diurnal exposure by geckos. Herpetofauna (Sydney) 33(2):58-9.
Strong BW and Gillam mW. A new record for the northern territory of the thick-tailed gecko (underwoodisaurus milii). Northern Territory Naturalist no.6 [Undated ?1983]:18-19. (No. 6):18-9.
Phyllurus milii
Bauer AM. 1990. Phylogenetic systematics and biogeography of the carphodactylini (reptilia: Gekkonidae). Bonner Zoologische Monographien no.30 1990:1-218. (No. 30):1-218.
Bustard HR. 1963. Gecko behavioural trait: Tongue wiping spectacle. Herpetologica 19 1963: 217-218. 19:217-8.
Cogger HG. 1960. Snakes, lizards and chelonians. Aust.Mus.Mag.13 1960: 250-253. 13:250-3.
Crescitelli F. 1958. The natural history of visual pigments. Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci.74 1958: 230-255. 74:230-55.
Crescitelli F. 1956. The nature of the gecko visual pigment. J.Gen.Physiol.40 1956: 217-231. 40:217-31.
Holder LA. 1960. The comparative morphology of the axial skeleton in the australian gekkonidae. J.Linn.Soc.(Zool.) 44 1960: 300-335. 44:300-35.
Maryan B and Robinson D. 1987. Notes on the herpetofauna of woody island, archipelago of the recherche. Western Australian Naturalist 17(1) 1987:3-4. 17(1):3-4.
Saunders JC and Johnstone BM. 1975. A comparative analysis of middle-ear function in non-mammalian vertebrates. Acta Oto-Lar.73(4) 1975: 353-361. 73(4):353-61.
Shea GM. 2002. The identity of phyllurus milii bory de saint vincent, 1823 (squamata: Pygopodidae: Diplodactylinae). Records of the Western Australian Museum 20(4) 2002:431-435. 20(4):431-5.
Shoemaker VH, Licht P, Dawson WR. 1967. Thermal dependence of water and electrolyte excretion in two species of lizards. Comp.Biochem.Physiol.23 1967: 255-262. 23:255-62.
Simpson KNG. 1973. Amphibians, reptiles and mammals of the murray river region between mildura and renmark, australia. Memoirs Natn.Mus.Vict.34,no.1973: 275-279,. 34,No.:275-9.
Storr GM. 1965. The physiography, vegetation and vertebrate fauna of the wallabi group, houtman abrolhos. Jl R.Soc.West.Aust.48 1965: 1-14. 48:1-14.
