[Taxacom] Fish checklist Re: (no subject)

[Geoff Read]

If this is a comment perhaps on "Checklist of the species of the
Indo-Pacific fish family Pseudochromidae" on ResearchGate, then it appears
to be an as yet unpublished work.
Via ResearchGate it is possible to engage in dialog with this person, &
find out his motivation.

One of the 'problems' for those who work on online databases is that
anyone can suck out a checklist from them. Proper acknowledgement of the
main data source would be appropriate but usually some additional value
will be added.

Cheers,

Geoff Read

On Mon, February 11, 2019 11:27 am, Anthony Gill wrote:
> As by far the most active taxonomist on a family of fishes, I was very
> surprised to see that someone else had just published a checklist of the
> species in the family. My research on the family spans a little over 30
> years activity, and includes revisionary work on all but one of the six
> subfamilies. I have also named about one-third of the known species in the
> family. In contrast, the checklist compiler has not published a single
> paper on the family, and appears to have limited knowledge of the family.
> One might think it respectful to at least inform me that he was working on
> the group, or perhaps to invite collaboration. At the very least, it would
> seem important that I peer reviewed his checklist. None of those things
> happened. Not surprisingly, he introduces a range of errors, and
> perpetuates a few others. As far as I can see, the taxonomic information
> was lifted from publications (mostly mine - his single included graphic is
> also remarkably similar to one I published) and databases (such as
> Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes), and (aside from one dubious spelling
> change, and various misinterpretations of published information), there is
> nothing new in the publication. Yet, if my understanding is correct, this
> publication is intended as THE checklist for the family.
>
> I'm curious to hear whether other taxonomists have encountered similar
> problems. I've seen similar regional checklists that appear to be simply
> compiled from museum databases with little if  any original collecting of
> samples or examination of specimens, but this is the first time I've seen
> a
> non-specialist compile a taxonomic checklist. I really hope this isn't
> commonplace.
>
> Tony
> --
> Dr Anthony C. Gill
> Natural History Curator
> A12 Macleay Museum
> University of Sydney
> NSW 2006
> Australia.
>
> Ph. +61 02 9036 6499
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--
Geoffrey B. Read, Ph.D.
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
gread at actrix.gen.nz