good work - it ALL seems OK. I agree, we must look at our projects specially if they rely on Taxonomy
○ Keep and eye on your ‘profile’ scores to see if that’s working
○ occasionally add a test-only observation to see what’s new in Taxonomy
○ Please add the tag test5 to any Observations that have taxonomy or validation issues
○ Do NOT free-type IDs no matter how good you are at spelling - ALWAYS choose from the Drop-down menu.
○ Be on your guard for bad common names - there are a few, check Magpie for example.
The next stage of the dictionary update is to sort out the species browser. We know there are issues with some of the top level start points (and dead end items that should not be present) so please check them and if possible suggest other start points that can be added (or subtracted) from what is there at the moment.
Well done all. Up and running within timeframe expected.
Thank you to all have worked on this….
Seconded!
(Plus required ‘padding’…)
Late as usual - but congratulations and thanks for implementing such a massive change with no apparent impact at all on the way iSpot operates (except of course that it’s now more up to date!).
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Even later here and after just a quick look, seems like congrats are in order to all involved!
Not part of the new dictionary team but back from a Devon trip and looking at how to add a Dartmoor Pony. Not done it yet but Equus ferus is the one.
However, to cross-check, I looked at other Equus and the donkey. It seems that Equus africanus asinus isn’t valid in the NHM but Equus asinus is, viz Donkey | Observation | UK and Ireland | iSpot Nature and Vertebrate grazers | Observation | UK and Ireland | iSpot Nature.
This is what you are looking for
https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/observation/839729/
The ID covers all UK Wild ponies and the Common name is OK
I remember that some of the regional Ponies had suitable common names - those have gone from the new Dictionary as have the Cows BUT NOT from the BROWSER
This is the iSpot Browser - WHY can’t we use the Common name? @miked @Chris_Valentine
.Equus ferus | Species Dictionary | UK and Ireland | iSpot Nature it is also in the NHM Index
Please add the tag test5 to your Observation NT
.
I cannot speak for the Equus asinus ID but the UK Mammal Soc. accept it Occurrence Detail 3353413687
I hope one of the Dictionary Team responds here too
Thanks, dejay. And I’ll use the tag.
Discuss?
Opinion 2027 from the ICZN gives priority to the names of (17) wild forms over those of the corresponding domesticated forms. This means that if you think that the wild and domesticated forms are conspecific then the name of the wild form should be used for both. Hence the use of Equus ferus and Equus africanus for domesticated horses and donkeys respectively.
“Carl Linnaeus named the domestic cat Felis catus in 1758; Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber named the wildcat Felis silvestris in 1775. For taxonomists who consider these two kinds of cat a single species the principle of priority means that the species ought to be named F. catus, but in practice almost all biologists have used F. silvestris. In 2003, the commission issued a ruling (Opinion 2027) that “conserved the usage of 17 specific names based on wild species, which are pre-dated, by or contemporary with those based on domestic forms”, confirming F. silvestris for the wild cat. Taxonomists who consider the domesticated cat the same species as the wild cat should use F. silvestris; taxonomists who consider the domesticated cat a subspecies of the wild cat should use F. silvestris catus; taxonomists who consider the domesticated cat a separate species should use F. catus.” (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature - Wikipedia)
Interesting turn of phrase
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