[Taxacom] Fish checklist Re: (no subject)

[Anthony Gill]

Thanks Geoff,

That is indeed the study. I had assumed it was published. I see that the
author has posted additional ms checklists, also on groups that he hasn't
worked on. I think it best that I just ignore his endeavours and set about
preparing a publication myself.

Thanks,

Tony

On Mon, Feb 11, 2019 at 1:02 PM Geoff Read <gread at actrix.gen.nz> wrote:

>
> 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 to be an as yet unpublished work.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
>
>

-- 
Dr Anthony C. Gill
Natural History Curator
A12 Macleay Museum
University of Sydney
NSW 2006
Australia.

Ph. +61 02 9036 6499