1 Topic by Syrphus

  • Syrphus
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  • From: Strathpeffer, Highland
  • Registered: 16-12-2008
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Topic: Poecile inconsistency

Just noticed this problem, Chris.

G5 shows Willow Tit Poecile montanUS (Conrad von Baldenstein, 1827), NHMSYS0001688302, and does not have montanA as a synonym.

R6 has P. montanA with a pseudotaxonomic 'aggregate', and two subspecies; and P. montanUS as a ssp. only in two lists.

EOL at http://eol.org/pages/284208/names/synonyms has both as valid names, and both as preferred names in different systems.

I don't know what the solution is, but I expect you will work it out!

Murdo

Syrphus's Website

2 Reply by ChrisR

  • ChrisR
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  • Registered: 27-08-2011
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Re: Poecile inconsistency

Hi Murdo

This is a result of the recent BOU ABC list changes (done here over Xmas with the help of Andy Musgrove) where BOU changed their recommendations to be "Poecile montanA" for Willow Tit and the related subspecies. The Gateway haven't updated the taxonomy yet (I think) but Recorder has - hence the discrepancies. I had to create lots of synonyms and in one case modified the original name (because it only occurred in the BOU list) but they should be fine.

The BOU changes included lots of common name changes and some really far-reaching changes to Finches, Warblers, Gulls & Thrushes etc. It was a bit of a nightmare actually ... not something I relish doing any time soon! ;)

Best wishes,
Chris R.

Chris Raper, Manager of the UK Species Inventory, Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity,
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.  (tel: 020 7942 5894)
also Tachinid Recording Scheme (http://tachinidae.org.uk/)

3 Reply by Eleanor Knott

  • Eleanor Knott
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Re: Poecile inconsistency

It would be useful if Poecile montana would show up as a synonym when you search for Poecile montanus.  The same for the other species that have changed Latin name recently (e.g. siskin is now Spinus spinus, and you can't find it in the preferred checklists if you search for Carduelis spinus).  I thought I was going mad the other day, as I couldn't the various finches, as they'd all changed their Latin names.

It's difficult to keep up with the various name changes, and data entry is a lot slower if you have to spend time hunting names

Ellie

Eleanor Knott
Devon Biodiversity Records Centre

4 Reply by ChrisR

  • ChrisR
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Re: Poecile inconsistency

Hi Ellie, I do sympathise - apologies for the confusion and for so many major changes in this update. Andy Musgrove & I went through the changes at the end of last year and I think we decided to basically copy the checklist exactly as the BOU release it - and they list very few synonyms. We have all of the synonyms in the Nameserver but I think in the case of Poecile montana/us a few name strings were amended to reduce the workload. In hindsight I should have retained the old spelling and I will look into this now. :)

Chris Raper, Manager of the UK Species Inventory, Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity,
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.  (tel: 020 7942 5894)
also Tachinid Recording Scheme (http://tachinidae.org.uk/)

5 Reply by ChrisR

  • ChrisR
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Re: Poecile inconsistency

Actually I have just checked and it looks like I only edited a name-string once - with the subspecies "Poecile montana subsp. borealis", so you should find that "montanus" will generate a list for the species "montana". :)

Chris Raper, Manager of the UK Species Inventory, Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity,
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.  (tel: 020 7942 5894)
also Tachinid Recording Scheme (http://tachinidae.org.uk/)