Arturo H. Ariño, David Galicia, Enrique Baquero & Rafael Jordana
Dept. Zoology & Ecology, University of Navarra. E-31080 Pamplona, Spain
Taxonomic Databases (TDs) endpoints can be taken beyond taxon or specimen ID. Downloadable images may someday act as surrogates for real specimens in taxonomic work, so that type series could be kept out of harm’s way. This goal is not easy to attain. Some of the shortcomings have been identified both theoretically and experimentally, and metadata designed to overcome them are listed. A forthcoming ENBI manual on best practices for digital imaging of type specimens addresses many of these issues in more detail.