[Taxacom] progress on globalnames.org

[faunaplan at aol.com]

Dear All,
in its current beta stage, the globalnames database seems to be a summary of major name compilers only, including all unreviewed problematic stuff. Wouldn't it be helpful if we could see the progress and make out which names have been reviewed? What about the following:

In order to flag a name that has been ascertained as an available name, we (logged in as taxon experts?) could add a perfectly stable & unique string pointing to a name's verified basis.
E.g., simple "anchor" strings composed of 'ZS-' (flagging a Zoological Species-group name), followed by the Code-compliant spelling of the basionym, and followed by the relevant subsequent generic combination (if any).

Examples:
(names taken verbatim from globalnames.org, with verified "anchors" after the pipe symbol):

Abax substriatus Leconte, 1848 | ZS-Feronia_substriata/Abax_substriatus

Cyclotrachelus substriata | ZS-Feronia_substriata/Cyclotrachelus_substriatus

Cyclotrachelus substriatus | ZS-Feronia_substriata/Cyclotrachelus_substriatus

Feronia substriata LeConte 1848 | ZS-Feronia_substriata

Misspellings or incorrect epithet endings are not carried into the "anchor string", and in case of? homonyms among anchors we can insert a precedence number in order to make the string unambiguous, e.g. "(2)" flagging the name as the junior of two homonyms. 

A strategy like this would be efficient because 
- only once we have to do it 
- would at least cross-reference many spelling variants and objective synonyms that are now separately listed without explanation
- helps in spotting phantom names, misspellings, etc.
It will also make the next step easier, - that is resolving subjective synonyms (and allowing for alternative classifications, when needed).

Best wishes,
Wolfgang

-----------------------------------
Wolfgang Lorenz, Tutzing, Germany


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