[Cz-biology] Species names

[Kim van der Linde]

For those who just through this medium jump in to the very specific case
(Giant Panda), please see the discussion of this at
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ_Talk:Biology_Workgroup at the various
entries. Before people based on the Giant Panda make decisions for many
species, please consider the following:

1. We have (multiple) common names for the fluffy and the furry and the
beautiful stuff, but there are many many without a common name:
1a. What about those without a common name?
1b. What about those with a very uncommon used common name?
1c. What if one species has two or more common names (for example: Monk
parrot (British) versus Quacker Parrot (parts of the US); Cougar or
Mountain Lion or Puma)
1d. What about common names used for multiple groups (for example: are
the Drosophilidae or the Tethritidae the fruitflies)?

2. Each and every name can be created as a redirect to the specific
page, as such, Giant Panda (http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Giant_Panda)
redirects to
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Ailuropoda_melanoleuca_(Giant_Panda) just
as http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Ailuropoda_melanoleuca should point to
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Ailuropoda_melanoleuca_(Giant_Panda) just
as Bai Xiong, Bamboo Bear, Da Xiong Mao, Hua Xiong, Mo, Pi xiu, Panda
and Panda Bear. As such, searching is not an issue at all, and both the
title as well as the first sentence makes immediately clear what is
going on.

Base on al this, it was proposed on the Biology workgroup talkpage to
use the following solution:
----------------
# Each species or higher taxon, except exceptions below, are to be
written under their official scientific name. If there is a single
established common name, that name is included in the title between
parenthesis. (e.g. "''Barnardius zonarius'' (Australian Ringneck)").
# Groups that are included in the "''Latin name'' (Common name)" system are:
#* Birds ([http://www.worldbirdnames.org/names.html offcial names]).
#* Mammals ([http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/ the single authoritative
source for mammal names]).
#* Other groups to be added if a single authoritative source has been
established.
# If a single authoritative common name is available for a species (see
point above), that name is to be used in the article and overrules
English dialect varieties.
# Subspecies and specific populations are included in the article of the
species, unless they warrant a full article by themselves due to the
amount of subspecies specific information.
# All common names are created as redirects to the main article. All
scientific synonyms are created as redirects to the main article. In
case of the "''Latin name'' (Common name)" scheme, the the main
scientific name is also created as a redirect.
# Exceptions. The following domesticated species are created under their
common name, most of the time using "Domesticated " as a prefix:
#* [[Human]] (''Homo sapiens sapiens'')
#* [[Domesticated horse]] (''Equus ferus caballus'')
#* [[Domesticated cat]] (''Felis silvestris catus'')
#* [[Domesticated dog]] (''Canis lupus familiaris'')
#* [[Donkey]] (''Equus asinus asinus'') or (''Equus africanus assinus'')
#* To be completed. (''Camelus ferus''; ''Lama guanicoe''; ''Vicugna
vicugna''; ''Bos primigenius''; ''Bos gaurus''; ''Bubalus arnee''; ''Bos
mutus''; ''Capra aegagrus''; ''Ovis orientalis''; ''Cavia aperea'';
''Mustela putorius''; ''Carassius gibelio''; ''Bombyx mandarina'', etc.)
----------------------
Kim
-- 
http://www.kimvdlinde.com