AnimalBase
Encyclopedia
AnimalBase is a project brought to life in 2004 and is maintained by the University of Göttingen, Germany. The goal of the AnimalBase project is to digitize early zoological literature, provide copyright-free open access to zoological works, and provide manually verified lists of names of zoological genera
and species
as a free resource for the public. AnimalBase contributed to opening up the classical taxonomic literature, which is considered as useful because access to early literature (especially for the late 18th century) can be difficult for researchers who need the old sources for their taxonomic research
.
AnimalBase data are public domain
. The public use of AnimalBase data is not restricted or conditioned.
AnimalBase covers all zoological disciplines. In the field of biodiversity informatics
AnimalBase is unique in providing links between the names of generic and specific taxa
and their digitized original descriptions, with a special focus on literature and names published prior to 1800.
s and web browser
s.
Between 2003 and 2005 approximately 400 zoological publications from the 1550s to 1770 were digitized while 10,000 linked zoological names were incorporated into the database. A second effort (2008–2011) has included additional digitized literature giving access to several ten thousand more zoological names that were extracted from the original sources and linked with their digitized original descriptions.
, GDZ) of the Göttingen State and University Library
(Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Göttingen, SUB), which is one of Germany's largest libraries, including over 4.5 million volumes. If available, AnimalBase also provides links to the digitized public domain
content of other providers, such as the Biodiversity Heritage Library
(BHL) or Gallica.
's Index Animalium (1902, 1922–1933) and the Nomenclator Zoologicus by Neave (1939/1940, updated). The nomenclatural status of names has been verified under the current edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
(ICZN). Possible discrepancies between older databases and the findings from AnimalBase name research (i.e. nomenclatural priority
or incorrect spellings) have occasionally been discussed in the comments provided for each taxon. The entire process has followed the established AnimalBase standard.
The AnimalBase standard allows for easy access to the primary data of the original description.
The AnimalBase team does not align the spellings or author
ship of each originally established name with those contained in various zoological databases, specialized by discipline or region. The primarily scope of AnimalBase is to provide links to the digitized original descriptions, but it can also be consulted for correct spellings and authorships of zoological names. In this regard, AnimalBase may potentially provide a useful update of Sherborn's Index Animalium.
AnimalBase also provides the option to combine the original names with their current allocations (current genus-species combinations). For example, detailed biological information and pictures are available for 2,500 species of European non-marine molluscs
, which includes more than 6,000 photographs.
AnimalBase is a collaborative and open resource project, all registered collaborators are able to correct or enter data. This includes uploading
pictures (copyright-free
) of animal species, biological data including measurements and diagnostic characters, distributional data
, the current conservation
status, etc. The pictures and data provided by AnimalBase are expressly permitted for use on other websites (copied or linked).
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
and species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
as a free resource for the public. AnimalBase contributed to opening up the classical taxonomic literature, which is considered as useful because access to early literature (especially for the late 18th century) can be difficult for researchers who need the old sources for their taxonomic research
Biological classification
Biological classification, or scientific classification in biology, is a method to group and categorize organisms by biological type, such as genus or species. Biological classification is part of scientific taxonomy....
.
AnimalBase data are public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
. The public use of AnimalBase data is not restricted or conditioned.
AnimalBase covers all zoological disciplines. In the field of biodiversity informatics
Biodiversity Informatics
Biodiversity Informatics is the application of informatics techniques to biodiversity information for improved management, presentation, discovery, exploration and analysis...
AnimalBase is unique in providing links between the names of generic and specific taxa
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
and their digitized original descriptions, with a special focus on literature and names published prior to 1800.
History
The project was initiated in 2003 with funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG). The database and its web interface began development in 2004 and was launched online in 2005. The web interface was designed to be accessible to older generations of computerComputer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s and web browser
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
s.
Between 2003 and 2005 approximately 400 zoological publications from the 1550s to 1770 were digitized while 10,000 linked zoological names were incorporated into the database. A second effort (2008–2011) has included additional digitized literature giving access to several ten thousand more zoological names that were extracted from the original sources and linked with their digitized original descriptions.
Digitization and linking to digitized literature from other sources
Early zoological publications are digitized under the highest quality standards by the Center for Retrospective Digitization in Göttingen (Göttinger DigitalisierungszentrumGöttinger Digitalisierungszentrum
The Center for Retrospective Digitization in Göttingen is an online system for archiving academic journals.- See also :*JSTOR* List of retrodigitized Mathematics Journals and Monographs...
, GDZ) of the Göttingen State and University Library
Göttingen State and University Library
The Göttingen State and University Library is the library for Göttingen University as well as the central library for the German State of Lower Saxony , and the library for the Göttingen Academy of Sciences...
(Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Göttingen, SUB), which is one of Germany's largest libraries, including over 4.5 million volumes. If available, AnimalBase also provides links to the digitized public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
content of other providers, such as the Biodiversity Heritage Library
Biodiversity Heritage Library
The Biodiversity Heritage Library is a project for the digitization of literature on biodiversity. It was founded in 2005 and was initially formed by ten United States and British libraries....
(BHL) or Gallica.
Extracting taxonomic names from the literature
Zoological names of generic and specific taxa that were established in early zoological publications have been entered manually into the database, including original and corrected spellings of names, type localities and page numbers where these names were originally established in the publications. Furthermore, the names have been compared to the entries in Charles Davies SherbornCharles Davies Sherborn
Charles Davies Sherborn was an English taxonomist. He wrote Index Animalium, an 11 volume, 9,000 page work that catalogued the 444,000 names of every living and extinct animal discovered between 1758 and 1850. Sherborn was the first president of the Society for the History of Natural History,...
's Index Animalium (1902, 1922–1933) and the Nomenclator Zoologicus by Neave (1939/1940, updated). The nomenclatural status of names has been verified under the current edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is a widely accepted convention in zoology that rules the formal scientific naming of organisms treated as animals...
(ICZN). Possible discrepancies between older databases and the findings from AnimalBase name research (i.e. nomenclatural priority
Principle of Priority
thumb|270px|Boa manditraIn zoology, the scientific study of animals, the Principle of Priority is one of the guiding principles of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, defined by Article 23....
or incorrect spellings) have occasionally been discussed in the comments provided for each taxon. The entire process has followed the established AnimalBase standard.
AnimalBase standard
Specific and generic names of taxa are entered manually with reference to the original description. A basic entry of a taxon name follows the AnimalBase standard, which is composed of the following guidelines:- The correct original spelling of the generic and specific name is checked according to the nomenclatural rules (ICZN Code, current edition).
- Specific names are strictly entered in combination with the genus to which they were attributed in the original description. In cases where the generic name was spelled incorrectly by the author who established the specific name, the AnimalBase Team combines the specific name with the correct spelling of that genus.
- Contingently incorrect original spellings of the taxon name (i.e. being different from the correct spelling) are entered in addition, retaining the original use of diacriticDiacriticA diacritic is a glyph added to a letter, or basic glyph. The term derives from the Greek διακριτικός . Diacritic is both an adjective and a noun, whereas diacritical is only an adjective. Some diacritical marks, such as the acute and grave are often called accents...
s, ligations, upper-case letters for specific names, hyphens, spaces between words, incorrect subsequent spellings of the generic name in a genus-species combination used by the author. - The name of the author is provided, spelled according to the name given on the title page of the original source (examples: Linnæus 1758, Linné 1766).
- The year or date of publication is provided, as determined by the nomenclatural rules (true date of publication).
- The gender treatment is provided (changeable or unchangeable specific names, according to post-classical LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
grammar rules). It is often difficult to determine whether a Latin name is an adjective or not, so resulting AnimalBase entries of this data may not be 100% reliable. - A link to the digitized publication containing the original description is provided.
- The page of the original description of the taxon name is provided (which is the page where the name was first mentioned and made available). If the described animal is shown on figure plates and without a name mentioned on the plates, this is not necessarily indicated.
- The type locality is provided as given in the original description if it is easily recognizable or can be inferred implicitly from the work. This procedure may be inaccurate (because the type locality is the locality where the name-bearing types came from, which are not researched by the AnimalBase team), but certainly provides useful information.
- The higher animal group in which the taxon is classifiedTaxonomyTaxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
is provided (phylum, class, order or likewise clade). - Entries are cross-checked with Index Animalium and (in case of genera) with Nomenclator Zoologicus. Incorrect entries (subsequent uses of previously established names, which Sherborn often listed incorrectly as new or nomina nudaNomen nudumThe phrase nomen nudum is a Latin term, meaning "naked name", used in taxonomy...
) and incorrect spellings of names in these databases are not copied into AnimalBase, if detected as such. - Incorrect subsequent spellings are not generally considered as new taxa, but may be listed as not available and discussed if the name was mentioned as a new name in the Index Animalium or is otherwise important.
- All animal groups are treated consistently by following the ICZN rules (fish names follow the same rules as insect names).
The AnimalBase standard allows for easy access to the primary data of the original description.
The AnimalBase team does not align the spellings or author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
ship of each originally established name with those contained in various zoological databases, specialized by discipline or region. The primarily scope of AnimalBase is to provide links to the digitized original descriptions, but it can also be consulted for correct spellings and authorships of zoological names. In this regard, AnimalBase may potentially provide a useful update of Sherborn's Index Animalium.
AnimalBase also provides the option to combine the original names with their current allocations (current genus-species combinations). For example, detailed biological information and pictures are available for 2,500 species of European non-marine molluscs
Mollusca
The Mollusca , common name molluscs or mollusksSpelled mollusks in the USA, see reasons given in Rosenberg's ; for the spelling mollusc see the reasons given by , is a large phylum of invertebrate animals. There are around 85,000 recognized extant species of molluscs. Mollusca is the largest...
, which includes more than 6,000 photographs.
AnimalBase is a collaborative and open resource project, all registered collaborators are able to correct or enter data. This includes uploading
Uploading and downloading
In computer networks, to download means to receive data to a local system from a remote system, or to initiate such a data transfer. Examples of a remote system from which a download might be performed include a webserver, FTP server, email server, or other similar systems...
pictures (copyright-free
Copyright-free
Copyright-free is a conventional expression extensively used in Japan by authors whose works can be used freely regardless of copyright. It is distinguished from public domain but is not entirely a commitment to copyleft.-External links:...
) of animal species, biological data including measurements and diagnostic characters, distributional data
Species distribution
Species distribution is the manner in which a biological taxon is spatially arranged. Species distribution is not to be confused with dispersal, which is the movement of individuals away from their area of origin or from centers of high population density. A similar concept is the species range. A...
, the current conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
status, etc. The pictures and data provided by AnimalBase are expressly permitted for use on other websites (copied or linked).
External links
- AnimalBase http://www.animalbase.org
- Index Animalium http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/indexanimalium/
- Nomenclator Zoologicus http://uio.mbl.edu/NomenclatorZoologicus/
- Digitization Center of the SUB Göttingen