Combination in a new genus
Last edited about 3 years ago — Added about 3 years ago

This is a guide to incorporating a combination in a new genus into AntCat using the article by Guerrero, 2021 as an example.

Transferring a valid species to another genus

The first example in the paper concerns the species Tapinoma antarcticum. On page 430, Guerrero transfers this species to the genus Forelius. This act requires a few changes in AntCat.

  • Create the new combination

In order to do this, go to the page of the new parent genus, Forelius. Under the "More" dropdown menu towards the top right of the page, click on "Add species".

In the "Name" field, type in the species name. Note that in the paper, the specific epithet is entered as antarcticus to agree with the gender of the new parent genus, Forelius.

Next, leave the status set as "valid" and then enter the protonym for the new species combination. In order to do this, go back to the Tapinoma antarcticum page and click on the button that contains the indentification number for the protonym in the blue "Protonym" box on the right of the screen (do not click on the button that says "pro..."). This will copy that number to your clipboard. On the "add species" page, click on the "Pick" button in the "Protonym" field and paste the protonym identification number that you just copied. Select the protonym name that comes up (the first name, in blue). The rest of the fields can be left as they are. Click on the "Save" button at the bottom of the screen. The new combination has been created.

  • Add a history item to indicate the new combination

Now that the new combination has been created, a taxonomic history item needs to be added to indicate this change and who made it.

Go to the page for Forelius antarcticus or its protonym, Tapinoma antarcticum. Click on the "Edit" button towards the top of the screen and then scroll down to the "Protonym history items" section. "Combination in" history items are listed near the top of the list of history items, after any notes, designations or additional descriptions of other castes. Move your mouse to the area just to the right of the "Quick edit" button for the "Status as" history item and click on the "Add item before this" button that appears. Enter the new history item, which in this case will read, "Combination in Forelius: Guerrero, 2021: 430." and click on the "Save" button.

  • Change the status of the previous combination

Now that the new genus combination has been created, the status of the previous (obsolete) combination needs to be changed.

In order to do this, on the Tapinoma antarcticum page, click on the "Edit" button near the top of the screen. In the "Status" field, select "obsolete combination". In the "Status-specific fields" section, select the current combination by clicking on the "Pick" button in the "Current taxon" field. Enter the current taxon in a similar fashion to how you entered the protonym earlier. On the Forelius antarcticus page, click on the button that contains the indentification number for the taxon (not the protonym) in the blue "Taxon: antarcticus" box on the right of the screen (do not click on the button that says "tax..."). This will copy that number to your clipboard once again. Select the current taxon in a similar way as you did for the protonym earlier.

Click on the "Save" button and the status for the obsolete combination, Tapinoma antarcticum, has been created.

Important note regarding the changes above

AntCat aims, amongst other things, to archive the taxonomic histories of each taxon. It is therefore important to retain the obsolete combinations of current valid taxa. In light of this, the steps above need to be followed. The "Force parent change" option under the "More" dropdown menu should not be used for transferring a taxon because this will result in the obsolete combination being eliminated. Both the obsolete combination and the current combination need to exist in AntCat to preserve the taxonomic history and to allow linkages to be made throughout the database.

Transferring a subspecies to another genus

In the paper, Guerrero also transfers a subspecies from Tapinoma to Forelius. This is done in much the same way as for a species.

Guerrero transfers Tapinoma heyeri risii to Forelius and gives it as a junior synonym of Forelius heyeri (also transferred from Tapinoma to Forelius).

  • Create the new combination in AntCat

In the same way as done earlier for Tapinoma antarcticum/Forelius antarcticus, add the new combination by starting at Forelius heyeri and clicking on "Add subspecies" under the "More" dropdown menu. Type in the name and enter the protonym as earlier.

In Guerrero, the new combination is given as a junior synonym of Forelius heyeri. In the "Status" field, select, "synonym" and in the "Current taxon" field enter Forelius heyeri following the steps earlier for the obsolete combination.

Now that the new combination has been created, follow the steps earlier to change the status of Tapinoma heyeri risii to an "obsolete combination" of the new combination, Forelius heyeri risii.

Once again note that it is important to retain the obsolete combination in AntCat.

Under Forelius heyeri risii, two taxonomic history items need to be added:

Combination in Forelius: Guerrero, 2021: 433.

Junior synonym of Forelius heyeri: Guerrero, 2021: 433.

The placement of these history items can be seen on the Forelius heyeri risii page.

Under Forelius heyeri, three taxonomic history items regarding these changes need to be added/edited:

Combination in Forelius: Guerrero, 2021: 433.

Status as species: Emery, 1913a: 41; Borgmeier, 1923: 100; Kempf, 1972b: 247; Shattuck, 1994: 145; Bolton, 1995b: 400; Guerrero, 2021: 433 (diagnosis, redescription).
(The history item above needed to be edited to include the latest citation.)

Senior synonym of Forelius heyeri risii: Guerrero, 2021: 433.

The placement of these history items can be seen on the Forelius heyeri page.

Further taxonomic changes

Further taxonomic changes and the addition of type information and lectotype designations in the paper can be dealt with following the guidelines here:
https://www.antcat.org/wiki_pages/14

To see a full list of changes associated with the Guerrero, 2021 article, click on the "What links here" button towards the top right of the reference page or click here:

https://www.antcat.org/references/143822/what_links_here