Project 1062: R. Meier, Y. Ang, L. J. Wong. 2013. Using seemingly unnecessary illustrations to improve the diagnostic usefulness of descriptions in taxonomy–a case study on Perochaeta orientalis (Diptera, Sepsidae). ZooKeys. 355:9-27.
Specimen: Perochaeta orientalis de Meijere, 1913 (unvouchered)

Abstract

Many species descriptions, especially older ones, consist mostly of text and have few illustrations. Only the most conspicuous morphological features needed for species diagnosis and delimitation at the time of description are illustrated. Such descriptions can quickly become inadequate when new species or characters are discovered. We propose that descriptions should become more data-rich by presenting a large amount of images and illustrations to cover as much morphology as possible; these descriptions are more likely to remain adequate over time because their large amounts of visual data may capture character systems that may become important in the future. Such an approach can now be easily achieved given that high-quality digital photography is readily available. Here, we re-describe the sepsid fly Perochaeta orientalis (de Meijere 1913) (Diptera, Sepsidae) which has suffered from inadequate descriptions in the past, and use photomicrography, scanning electron microscopy and videography to document its external morphology and mating behaviour. All images and videos are embedded within the electronic publication. We discuss briefly benefits and problems with our approach.


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Article DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.355.6013

Project DOI: 10.7934/P1062, http://dx.doi.org/10.7934/P1062
This project contains
  • 8 Media
  • 2 Documents
  • 3 Taxa
  • 4 Specimens
Total size of project's media files: 26.77M

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MorphoBank Project 1062

    Authors' Institutions

    • National University of Singapore



    Members

    member name taxa specimens media media
    notes
    Yuchen Ang
    Project Administrator
    3488
    Maureen Admin
    Full membership
    0000
    MorphoBank Curator
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