NOW

class="w3-container w3-responsive"> As a guideline NOW uses the taxonomy of McKenna & Bell's Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level, except for Muridae for which we use McKenna & Bell's classification with the modifications suggested by Hans de Bruijn.

Proper use of Taxonomic Fields

The primary assumption is that species already exist in the database, so before creating a new species entry, always check whether the species is in the database already! If this is the case, please follow the instructions under Species at Localities for how to add the species to your desired location. However, if the species in question really is missing from the database, for example, it is a recently established species, from an area previously not included in the database, or an informal species, please follow the taxonomic conventions outlined below.

Field	Description
Class	The Linnean class to which the species belongs: Mammalia.
Order	The Linnean order to which the species belongs.
Family	The Linnean family to which the species belongs. incertae sedis when the family of the genus is not known indet. when nothing but the order for this taxon is known when there are any uncertainties in the assignment of the family for this genus, enter 'family attrib of genus uncertain' in the taxonomic status field If the family is not known at data entry (a relatively common occurrence) the value Findout may be used. These species can be listed and updated later. if there are any uncertainties in the family identification at a particular locality, enter 'family id uncertain' in the ID status field, genus and species should be indet.
Tribe or Subfamily	The Linnean subfamily or tribe to which the species belongs. use the most meaningful rank between family and genus for the family in question leave blank when tribes/subfamilies are not commonly used for the family in question Enter Findout if tribes/subfamilies are commonly used for the family but it is not known to you Enter Findout Enter indet. if a tribes/subfamilies are commonly used for this family but cannot be assigned for this taxon leave blank when nothing but the order or family for this taxon is known
Genus	The generic name of the species. indet. when the genus of the species cannot be assigned (when the genus is indet., species must also be indet.) gen. when the "species" belongs to a distinct but unnamed genus (when the genus is gen., species should usually be sp.) when there are any uncertainties in the assignment of the genus for this species, enter 'genus attrib of species uncertain' in the taxonomic status field if there are any uncertainties in the genus identification at a particular locality, enter 'genus id uncertain' in the ID status field, species should be indet.
Species	The species epithet of the species. indet. when the species of the taxon cannot be assigned (NOTE: indeterminate taxa are often referred to as 'sp.' in the literature but you should use 'indet.' for them in NOW) sp. when the 'species' represents a distinct but unnamed species - when species is sp., the unique identifier must be completed if there are any uncertainties in the species identification at a particular locality, enter 'species id uncertain' in the ID status field
Unique	Makes the species entry unique. usually left blank (automatically filled with '-') mandatory when sp. in the species field: to indicate new, unnamed species, use 'nov. Locality', or 'nov. Author', or simply 'Locality' (Note: NEVER enter the names of new, unpublished taxa, as this will invalidate the name) subspecies name if absolutely necessary (avoid using subspecies where possible or enter into the 'Additional Info' field when adding the species into a location). Subspecies can often be considered as actual species by different authors – for example, Canis palmidens appears in literature also as Canis chicliensis palmidens – so it is good to also check whether the genus in question already has the same subspecies name as a species level entry in the database. may also be used to create informal subdivisions ('small', 'large') of taxa Avoid using meaningless distinctions such as 1, 2 or A, B in the unique field, unless following a Locality name even if thus given in the literature
Taxonomic Status	A taxonomic qualifier common to all occurrences of this taxon. Usually, the taxonomic status is blank. Valid entries are: family attrib of genus uncertain genus attrib of species uncertain informal species species validity uncertain taxonomic validity uncertain 'Species validity uncertain' is used for taxa that belong to a specific genus but have an uncertain standing as separate species (often due to lack of knowledge). 'Taxonomic validity uncertain' indicates taxa that are most likely invalid, nomina dubia, listed only in very old literature, or chimaeras but still persist in literature sources as listed species.
Taxonomic Comment	For most taxa, Taxonomic Comment should be left blank This field is meant for additional, relevant taxonomic information that does not fit into the common database fields Could be, for example, 'Several subspecies recognized' or 'Possibly synonymous with Machairodus aphanistus' ' validity uncertain' should be chosen for 'Taxonomic status') Taxonomic comments can only be added by taxonomic coordinators or NOW administrators, but you are very welcome to suggest relevant comments
Synonym	If there are commonly known synonymous names, for example, the species used to be classified under a different genus, the synonymous name(s) should be entered here (see also examples for entering a taxon under a synonymous name into a locality - last example) Some taxonomic names also have several different spellings which all appear in the common literature. For example, Lynx pardinus and Lynx pardina are both commonly used for the same species, but only one of the names is correct (Lynx pardinus is the original name) and the other should be entered as its synonym In any other (possible) synonymy cases, please contact Indrė Žliobaitė or Kari Lintulaakso before entering a new synonym into the database.

As a guideline NOW uses the taxonomy of McKenna & Bell's Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level, except for Muridae for which we use McKenna & Bell's classification with the modifications suggested by Hans de Bruijn.

Taxonomic Examples

Below are a number of hypothetical examples as a guide to correct usage of the taxonomic fields in NOW.

Well-defined taxa

NOTE: In most cases, it is preferred that you enter subspecies names into the 'Additional Info' field within Localities > Species information tab instead of creating a new species entry.

Order	Family	Subfamily	Genus	Species	Unique
Situation: well-defined taxonomic unit
Carnivora	Amphicyonidae	Amphicyoninae	Amphicyon	major	-
Situation: the family of genus *Simocyon* is not known
Carnivora	incertae sedis	-	Simocyon	primigiensis	-
Situation: a widely accepted subspecies
Carnivora	Felidae	Felinae	Lynx	lynx	lynx

Indeterminate taxa

NOTE: indeterminate taxa are often referred to as 'sp.' in the literature.

Order	Family	Subfamily	Genus	Species	Unique
Situation: indeterminate carnivore
Carnivora	indet.	-	indet.	indet.	-
Situation: family Amphicyonidae, but nothing further is known
Carnivora	Amphicyonidae	-	indet.	indet.	-
Situation: subfamily Amphicyoninae, genus and species unknown
Carnivora	Amphicyonidae	Amphicyoninae	indet.	indet.	-
Situation: this material represents tribe Bovini, genus and species unknown
Artiodactyla	Bovidae	Bovini	indet.	indet.	-
Situation: cannot be assigned at the species-level e.g. insufficient fossil material May appear in literature as: Amphicyon sp., Amphicyon indet.
Carnivora	Amphicyonidae	Amphicyoninae	Amphicyon	indet.	-
Situation: material from genus Lynx, a small form but species unknown May appear in literature as: Lynx indet. small, Lynx (small form)
Carnivora	Felidae	Felinae	Lynx	indet.	small

Informal species

NOTE: Informal species may be novel species or distinct but unnamed taxa from a particular locality. They are identified by 'sp.' in the species field, and an identifier in the unique field, usually the Locality name. Many taxa are listed as 'Genus sp.' in the literature, but unless they refer to a distinct species, they should be entered in NOW as indeterminate taxa, 'Genus indet.'.

Family	Subfamily	Genus	Species	Unique	Taxonomic Status
Situation: a novel species within Amphicyon from locality Pasalar May appear in literature as: Amphicyon sp. nov., Amphicyon nov.
Amphicyonidae	Amphicyoninae	Amphicyon	sp.	Pasalar	informal species
Amphicyonidae	Amphicyoninae	Amphicyon	sp.	nov. Pasalar	informal species
Situation: a novel species in probably a novel genus from locality Candir
Amphicyonidae	-	gen.	sp.	Candir	informal species
Situation: a novel species within Lynx from locality Stockholm May appear in literature as: Lynx sp.1
Felidae	Felinae	Lynx	sp.	Stockholm 1	informal species
Situation: a novel species, named but UNPUBLISHED May appear in literature as: Lynx newname sp. nov.
Felidae	Felinae	Lynx	sp.	Werdelin new	informal species
Situation: a novel species, named and PUBLISHED May appear in literature as: Lynx newname sp. nov
Felidae	Felinae	Lynx	newname	-	-

Uncertain taxonomic assignment

Family	Subfamily	Genus	Species	Unique	Taxonomic Status
Situation: species steinheimensis may not belong to the genus Amphicyon May appear in literature as: cf. Amphicyon steinheimensis, ?Amphicyon steinheimensis, "Amphicyon" steinheimensis
Amphicyonidae	Amphicyoninae	Amphicyon	steinheimensis	-	genus attrib of species uncertain
Situation: genus Hecubides may not belong to the family Amohycionidae May appear in literature as: cf. Amohycionidae Hecubides macrodon
Amohycionidae	-	Hecubides	macrodon	-	family attrib of genus uncertain
Situation: taxonomic validity of Lynx fennicus is uncertain
Felidae	Felinae	Lynx	fennicus	-	taxonomic validity uncertain

Two similar but separate species

NOTE: In a few recognised cases, two similar but separate species may not be possible to tell apart (e.g. can tell them apart if skull material is present, but not just from the teeth). Where the taxon is thus indeterminate but limited to two known species, and this is a regular occurrence, the species may be entered into NOW as a new species entry (in less common cases, please see examples under 'Species at Localities')

Family	Genus	Species	Unique	Taxonomic Status
Situation: It is often impossible to tell whether Stephanorhinus etruscus or Stephanorhinus hundheimensis is present May appear in literature as: Stephanorhinus etruscus/hundsheimensis or Stephanorhinus hundsheimensis/etruscus
Rhinocerotidae	Stephanorhinus	etruscus/hundsheimensis	-	-

Links to

References

McKenna, M.C. & Bell, S.K. 2000. Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. i-xii, 1-631. Columbia University Press.

New and Old Worlds

Database of fossil mammals

Data Conventions - Proper use of Taxonomic Fields