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Introduction |
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This page provides information on how to search for, interpret, and edit records in
LepIndex. For detailed information about the Viadocs Nomenclatural database and the
current coverage of LepIndex, please read the introductory pages listed on the
home page. For information about how to decipher
information on the index card images please see
About the index cards.
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Important notes |
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- Data in the LepIndex Viadocs database supercedes information written on the cards
unless it is suffixed with an @. The presence of this symbol indicates that
the data have not yet been validated by NHM staff (in most cases such data are the
results of Optical Character Recognition).
- In the case of most records in LepIndex, only a small proportion of fields contain
values at present and this may give rise to apparently spurious data, especially
for references and name combinations (because several fields are concatenated).
- On both the index cards and in the LepIndex Viadocs database, genus-group names
are always written in UPPERCASE, and species-group and infrasubspecific names in lowercase.
- The current valid names given in LepIndex are largely those used in the NHM
collection and, if so, they are often not up to date. When the subjective synonymy
of a group has been updated in LepIndex this will be noted in
Current coverage of LepIndex.
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Searching the database |
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Data may be accessed via three search modes:
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In all search modes, if your query returns more than one match the system will list
all matches - click on a Taxon name to view the full record. Note that if you hold
your cursor over a taxon name on the search results page, a box will pop up which lists the
taxon's current classification (superfamily, family, subfamily, tribe) plus the genus the
taxon was placed in when it was first described (ie its original genus). If only one
match is found the system will display the full record automatically.
Please note: the Taxon name search is for single names only. For example, to locate Dysodia vitrina
flammata Warren, 1904 you should enter flammata only. |
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Full Record pages
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On the full record page, the upper section contains an image of the index card for the taxon
in question (if one is present in the NHM archive), the original and currently accepted name combinations (plus, occasionally, an unpublished
name combination), and the taxon's higher classification. The card may be enlarged or the back of it
viewed by clicking the appropriate buttons to its left.
The drop-down menu at the top right of the page displays the name of taxon you are viewing,
and lists all the taxa which belong to the genus of the taxon being viewed. The current valid
genus name is given at the top of the list and valid species names are listed alphabetically
below it. Any valid subspecies names are listed alphabetically under the species they belong
to. Names that are nomenclaturally unavailable (eg junior homonyms, junior objective synonyms),
or names that are not in use (eg junior subjective synonyms), are listed alphabetically below
the valid name of the taxon they refer to. Select a taxon name to view its full record.
- Valid subspecies names are indented to the right
- If a taxon name is preceded by an asterisk (*), it is not a valid name.
- If a taxon name is preceded by an exclamation mark (!), its current status (ie its availability) is not yet recorded in the database.
The lower section of a full record page can display various data about the taxon and/or name (see table below). Click the
appropriate tab to display the data you require. If you are a registered user and have
logged in, then these tabs will include links allowing you to submit and correct data.
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NAME OF TAB |
DATA DISPLAYED ON TAB |
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Name Combs |
The Original publication details section on the top half of this tab displays the following information: the current status of the scientific name (ie its availability); the rank of the name (eg genus, species, subspecies) when it was first published (termed 'original rank'); the current rank of the name; the original published combination of the name; and the reference in which the name was first published. The number of the page on which the name was published and details of any illustrations of the taxon in the original description are given in brackets after this reference.
The Current valid name section on the bottom half of the tab displays the currently accepted valid name of the taxon. If this name combination differs from the original combination of the name (eg because the rank of the name has since changed, the name is invalid, or the taxon has been transferred to another genus) then the reference in which the changes were published is given. Please note that fi the species name is missing from the database, it will be replaced by an exclamation mark (eg for 'THYRIS ! infuscata Issekutz, 1953', the '!' indicates that the species name is missing)."
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Old Combs |
This tab lists any published changes to the rank, status or combination of the
name since its original description, excluding information relating to the
currently accepted valid name (thus this tab details the name's taxonomic history).
References are given for listed changes.
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MS Comb. |
This tab details any unpublished change(s) to the rank, status or combination of
the name and gives the name of the person who proposed the change(s) and the
date he/she proposed the change(s). |
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Type Sp. |
Gives details about the type species of genus-group names plus the reference in
which the type species designation was made. |
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Lecto/Neo |
Displays information about the designation of lectotypes or neotypes of species-group
taxa and the reference in which the designation was made. |
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Types |
Gives information about the type specimens of species-group taxa. |
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More Refs |
Lists one or more references which give additional information about the taxon
(e.g. host-plant information, descriptions of early stages etc). |
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Distribution |
Displays information about the geographical distribution of the taxon (by
zoogeographic region, country and occasionally areas within countries).
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Location |
Gives details about the location of specimens of the taxon in the NHM collection. |
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Enter any SINGLE genus-group, species-group OR infrasubspecific name either in full or in part
to return a list of all matching names. Output is returned in batches of 30 records.
For example, to locate Dysodia vitrina flammata Warren, 1904 you should enter flammata only.
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This allows you to list all the taxa in a particular group, alphabetically.
The Search button may be clicked at any point, and will operate on the lowest-ranked taxonomic group currently selected. The Search button outputs taxa sorted alphabetically.
Start by selecting a superfamily.
To list all members of the selected superfamily, click Search
If you wish to select a family, note that the contents of the Family dropdown are updated automatically whenever a superfamily is selected.
After selecting a family, you may click Search to list members of that
family, or select a subfamily, and so on to tribes. If the selected family contains no subfamilies, the boxes below family will be empty; similarly for subfamily and tribe.
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Advanced search
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Fill in any or all of the available fields either in full or in part, then click Search
to return a list of taxa which match ALL of your entered criteria.
Please note: the Taxon name search is for SINGLE NAMES ONLY. For example, to locate Dysodia vitrina
flammata Warren, 1904 you should enter flammata only. |
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