| Revision as of 13:16, 3 February 2006 editKnowledge Seeker (talk | contribs)10,201 edits →Capitalization of common names: rewording for clarity; so far the only capitalization has been in books← Previous edit | Revision as of 19:55, 27 March 2006 edit undoGdr (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users29,064 edits Edit to make this clearer and easier to follow; shorten paragraphs so they have one recommendation, followed by examples on separate lines. Link to other naming conventions.Next edit → | ||
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| ''The naming conventions that apply to fauna have been extensively discussed and continue to be discussed on the , and the following guidelines have broad consensus approval.'' | ''The naming conventions that apply to fauna have been extensively discussed and continue to be discussed on the , and the following guidelines have broad consensus approval.'' | ||
| == Article title == | |||
| In general, use the '''common name''' for page titles: ], not ''Mustella nigripes'', ] not ''Falco peregrinus''. Be aware of alternative names. The European ] is the same species as the North American ], so a redirect should be created to whichever article is written first from the other. | |||
| If there is a '''common name''' in English, use that (following ] and ]). | |||
| * ], ], ], ], ], etc. | |||
| Use the '''singular''' form, following ]. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| * ] (not "beetles"). | |||
| If the article is about an animal belonging to a group where Misplaced Pages editors have agreed on a standard for choosing a common name, follow that standard: | |||
| ⚫ | The |
||
| * Editors involved with ] have agreed to use the official recommendations of ornithological societies, for example ] (not duck hawk, ''Falco peregrinus'', etc.) | |||
| ⚫ | * In this case, beware of informal common names. Many species have multiple common names; however, only one of these is usually recognised as formally correct. For example, the ] is known in various parts of the world as "ruru", "mopoke", "morepork", "boobook", "New Zealand Owl", "Tasmanian Spotted Owl", and so on. Create redirects from these colloquial names, but place the main entry under the official common name — in this case, "Southern Boobook". | ||
| Don't use common names when it isn't clear what the name refers to. | |||
| Sometimes exceptions need to be made; most creatures do not have a formal common name. Some distinct groups are known only by their scientific name. In other cases a succinct single group name is preferred to a title that amounts to a list of animals. The sub-family name ], for example, is a much better title than ]. | |||
| * The name ] is used for many different species of small oily fishes; the only appropriate thing to do is to write a disambiguation page under that name. | |||
| However, when there's a clear core meaning for the common name, with other meanings by analogy, then it's OK to use the common name for the "true" group: | |||
| ⚫ | ==Capitalization of common names== | ||
| * Many elongated fishes are known as "eels", but "true eels" are in the order Anguilliformes, so it's appropriate to place them at the article name "]", with the others listed at ]. | |||
| If there is no common name, or if the only common name would be taken by a higher-ranked group, use the '''scientific name''': | |||
| * '']'' has no common name. | |||
| * '']'' is commonly known as the "pinecone fish", but so are all the other species in the family ], so that name is not available. | |||
| If there is a choice of scientific names, use the lowest-ranked taxon which the article covers. | |||
| * '']'' (not Xenoturbellidae or Xenoturbellida). | |||
| Except that for extinct genera which contain only a single described species, name the article after the genus. | |||
| * '']'' (not ''Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis'') | |||
| == Redirects == | |||
| Make redirects from alternative common names: | |||
| * ] → ] | |||
| Make redirects from scientific names: | |||
| * '']'' → ] | |||
| * ] → ] | |||
| * '']'' → '']'' | |||
| There may be several scientific names that need to be redirected: | |||
| * '']'' → ] (since there is only one species in that genus) | |||
| * Both ] and ] → '']'' | |||
| Make redirects from alternative capitalizations: | |||
| * ] → ] | |||
| ==Article text== | |||
| ⚫ | The scientific name of an organism or group should appear in the opening line of the entry. Alternative names should be mentioned in the text where applicable, with bold type in the opening line of the entry if they are in wide use, or elsewhere in the article (with or without the bold type) if they are less-used. This is usually a matter for individual judgement. | ||
| * The '''Southern Boobook''' (''Ninox novaeseelandiae''), also called the '''mopoke''', is a small brown ] found mainly in ] ... | |||
| * '''Grunters''' or '''tigerperches''' are fishes in the family '''Terapontidae''' ... | |||
| * The '''rove beetles''' are a large family ('''Staphylinidae''') of ]s, primarily distinguished by their short ] ... | |||
| ⚫ | ==Capitalization of common names of species== | ||
| Various ornithological societies have made a strong case in favour of this convention for naming birds, and avian names are often capitalized in the scientific literature. However, the names of other animals, including mammals, are usually left uncapitalized in journals, dictionaries, and style guides; they are also usually but not always lower case in books. The underlying rationale for capitalization is that this signals to the reader that we are indicating a particular, exact species and avoiding ambiguity. The phrase "in Australia there are many Common Starlings" indicates a large number of ''Sturnus vulgaris''. In contrast, the phrase "in Australia there are many common starlings" indicates several different ] of starling. The hyphenated part of a species name, however, is '''not''' capitalised. For example, ], ], ]. If in doubt, check with a field guide or official list. | Various ornithological societies have made a strong case in favour of this convention for naming birds, and avian names are often capitalized in the scientific literature. However, the names of other animals, including mammals, are usually left uncapitalized in journals, dictionaries, and style guides; they are also usually but not always lower case in books. The underlying rationale for capitalization is that this signals to the reader that we are indicating a particular, exact species and avoiding ambiguity. The phrase "in Australia there are many Common Starlings" indicates a large number of ''Sturnus vulgaris''. In contrast, the phrase "in Australia there are many common starlings" indicates several different ] of starling. The hyphenated part of a species name, however, is '''not''' capitalised. For example, ], ], ]. If in doubt, check with a field guide or official list. | ||
| When you create a new entry, whatever the capitalisation chosen, '''always''' create a redirect in the alternative case. For example, name the entry ] but create a redirect to it from ] or ''vice versa''. Creating the redirect is ''not'' optional, but will not be needed for single word species names. (See ]). There are some rare instances where lower case and capitalised versions have different meanings, such as ]/], and, in particular, ]/]. Suitable links or disambiguation should then be used. | When you create a new entry, whatever the capitalisation chosen, '''always''' create a redirect in the alternative case. For example, name the entry ] but create a redirect to it from ] or ''vice versa''. Creating the redirect is ''not'' optional, but will not be needed for single word species names. (See ]). There are some rare instances where lower case and capitalised versions have different meanings, such as ]/], and, in particular, ]/]. Suitable links or disambiguation should then be used. | ||
| == Capitalization of common names of groups == | |||
| The name of a ''group'' of species, or an individual creature of indeterminate species, is ''not'' capitalised |
The common name of a ''group'' of species, or an individual creature of indeterminate species, is ''not'' capitalised. | ||
| * ], ], ], ], ], ], ]. | |||
| == Capitalization of scientific names == | |||
| Orders, families and other taxa above genus level are written with an initial capital and in roman (not italic) text |
Orders, families and other taxa above genus level are written with an initial capital and in roman (not italic) text. | ||
| * Bats belong to the order ]; rats and mice are members of the family ] and the order ]. | |||
| However, there is generally an English form for a member of the group, and this should not be capitalized: | |||
| * Members of the order ] are "chiropterans"; members of the family ] are "murids" and members of the order ] are "rodents". | |||
| The names of genera are always italicised and capitalised |
The names of genera are always italicised and capitalised. | ||
| * '']'', '']'', '']''. | |||
| The second part of a ] is never capitalised (even when derived from a proper noun), always italicised, and is always preceded by either the genus name (or an abbreviation of it if the full version has occurred previously): |
The second part of a ] is never capitalised (even when derived from a proper noun), always italicised, and is always preceded by either the genus name (or an abbreviation of it if the full version has occurred previously): | ||
| * The ] is ''Ninox novaeseelandiae'' or ''N. novaeseelandiae''. | |||
| The same applies to the third part of a ]. | |||
| ⚫ | ==See also |
||
| * The ] is ''Canis lupus arctos'' or ''C. l. arctos''. | |||
| ⚫ | ==See also== | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ]s | * ]s | ||
| Line 33: | Line 84: | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 19:55, 27 March 2006
 | This page documents an English Misplaced Pages naming conventions. Editors should generally follow it, though exceptions may apply. Substantive edits to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on this guideline's talk page. |
The naming conventions that apply to fauna have been extensively discussed and continue to be discussed on the mailing list, and the following guidelines have broad consensus approval.
Article title
If there is a common name in English, use that (following Misplaced Pages:Naming conventions (common names) and Misplaced Pages:Naming conventions (use English)).
Use the singular form, following Misplaced Pages:Naming conventions (plurals).
- Beetle (not "beetles").
If the article is about an animal belonging to a group where Misplaced Pages editors have agreed on a standard for choosing a common name, follow that standard:
- Editors involved with Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Birds have agreed to use the official recommendations of ornithological societies, for example Peregrine Falcon (not duck hawk, Falco peregrinus, etc.)
- In this case, beware of informal common names. Many species have multiple common names; however, only one of these is usually recognised as formally correct. For example, the Southern Boobook is known in various parts of the world as "ruru", "mopoke", "morepork", "boobook", "New Zealand Owl", "Tasmanian Spotted Owl", and so on. Create redirects from these colloquial names, but place the main entry under the official common name — in this case, "Southern Boobook".
Don't use common names when it isn't clear what the name refers to.
- The name sardine is used for many different species of small oily fishes; the only appropriate thing to do is to write a disambiguation page under that name.
However, when there's a clear core meaning for the common name, with other meanings by analogy, then it's OK to use the common name for the "true" group:
- Many elongated fishes are known as "eels", but "true eels" are in the order Anguilliformes, so it's appropriate to place them at the article name "eel", with the others listed at eel (disambiguation).
If there is no common name, or if the only common name would be taken by a higher-ranked group, use the scientific name:
- Drosophila melanogaster has no common name.
- Monocentris japonica is commonly known as the "pinecone fish", but so are all the other species in the family Monocentridae, so that name is not available.
If there is a choice of scientific names, use the lowest-ranked taxon which the article covers.
- Xenoturbella (not Xenoturbellidae or Xenoturbellida).
Except that for extinct genera which contain only a single described species, name the article after the genus.
- Nodocephalosaurus (not Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis)
Redirects
Make redirects from alternative common names:
Make redirects from scientific names:
- Phascolarctos cinereus → Koala
- Coleoptera → Beetle
- Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis → Nodocephalosaurus
There may be several scientific names that need to be redirected:
- Phascolarctos → Koala (since there is only one species in that genus)
- Both Xenoturbellida and Xenoturbellidae → Xenoturbella
Make redirects from alternative capitalizations:
Article text
The scientific name of an organism or group should appear in the opening line of the entry. Alternative names should be mentioned in the text where applicable, with bold type in the opening line of the entry if they are in wide use, or elsewhere in the article (with or without the bold type) if they are less-used. This is usually a matter for individual judgement.
- The Southern Boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae), also called the mopoke, is a small brown owl found mainly in New Zealand ...
- Grunters or tigerperches are fishes in the family Terapontidae ...
- The rove beetles are a large family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra ...
Capitalization of common names of species
Various ornithological societies have made a strong case in favour of this convention for naming birds, and avian names are often capitalized in the scientific literature. However, the names of other animals, including mammals, are usually left uncapitalized in journals, dictionaries, and style guides; they are also usually but not always lower case in books. The underlying rationale for capitalization is that this signals to the reader that we are indicating a particular, exact species and avoiding ambiguity. The phrase "in Australia there are many Common Starlings" indicates a large number of Sturnus vulgaris. In contrast, the phrase "in Australia there are many common starlings" indicates several different species of starling. The hyphenated part of a species name, however, is not capitalised. For example, Black-footed Ferret, Red-winged Blackbird, Wilson's Storm-petrel. If in doubt, check with a field guide or official list.
When you create a new entry, whatever the capitalisation chosen, always create a redirect in the alternative case. For example, name the entry Bald Eagle but create a redirect to it from bald eagle or vice versa. Creating the redirect is not optional, but will not be needed for single word species names. (See Misplaced Pages:redirect). There are some rare instances where lower case and capitalised versions have different meanings, such as barn owl/Barn Owl, and, in particular, wood warbler/Wood Warbler. Suitable links or disambiguation should then be used.
Capitalization of common names of groups
The common name of a group of species, or an individual creature of indeterminate species, is not capitalised.
Capitalization of scientific names
Orders, families and other taxa above genus level are written with an initial capital and in roman (not italic) text.
- Bats belong to the order Chiroptera; rats and mice are members of the family Muridae and the order Rodentia.
However, there is generally an English form for a member of the group, and this should not be capitalized:
- Members of the order Chiroptera are "chiropterans"; members of the family Muridae are "murids" and members of the order Rodentia are "rodents".
The names of genera are always italicised and capitalised.
The second part of a binomial species name is never capitalised (even when derived from a proper noun), always italicised, and is always preceded by either the genus name (or an abbreviation of it if the full version has occurred previously):
- The Southern Boobook is Ninox novaeseelandiae or N. novaeseelandiae.
The same applies to the third part of a trinomial name.
- The Arctic Wolf is Canis lupus arctos or C. l. arctos.