Heller, Frandsen, Lorenzen & Siegismund (in press). Are there really twice as many bovid species as we thought? Syst Biol. [abstract]
Abstract
The real diversity of the Bovidae is not only underestimated, but holds many surprises in its richness of diversity, especially overlooked and misclassified cryptic species. Our argument refutes the recent paper (Heller et al. 2013) condemning Groves & Grubb's (2011) revised taxonomy of the Bovidae as "taxonomic inflation" that is bad for conservation. The recent collective condemnation of this bovid revision misunderstands taxonomic theory and concept, and disregards how the unprecedented revision of material evidence informs the new bovid taxonomy. Unfortunately, the criticisms are likely to mislead conservation efforts. Contrary to taxonomic conservatives' denigrations of the Phylogenetic Species Concept (PSC), we explain how evolutionary species - ontological realities - can be discovered and characterized using the PSC, with a minimum of taxonomic error. Taxonomic conservatism weakens conservation policy because it throws a great deal out of biology. It is best understood as a political reaction to taxonomic revisions replacing non-historical characterizations of biodiversity (reliant on the polytypic Biological Species Concept and/or the morphological species concept) with historical ones based on the PSC. Further, accelerating discoveries of cryptic species unnerve conservative traditions in taxonomy and conservation biology. Taxonomic conservatism has no place in modern biology, let alone phylogenetic systematics, because its deficiencies undermine the consilience of comparative biology. Most seriously, taxonomic conservatism ignores the fundamental role of the Individuality Thesis in fostering robust understanding of biodiversity. We argue that rejections of G&G defend an obsolete taxonomy of large mammals, which testifies to the remarkable persistence of a folk taxonomy weakening 21st century science. Our consolidated argument underscores the challenges of improving scientific knowledge of cryptic biodiversity, exemplified in the extant (and historically extinct) Bovidae.
[See post #168.]Cotterill, Taylor, Gippoliti, Bishop & Groves (in press). Why one century of phenetics is enough: response to 'Are there really twice as many bovid species as we thought?'. Syst Biol.
Got a mail yesterday from Lynx ref. the last volume of HMW with the information that now are plates and photos online. ......
The "calf" captions are positioned rather randomly: one near the scale bar, three others adjacent to adults....but I am missing the what your remark about captions means
Exactly what I meant.The "calf" captions are positioned rather randomly: one near the scale bar, three others adjacent to adults.
LOLPerhaps the calves moved.
The "calf" captions are positioned rather randomly: one near the scale bar, three others adjacent to adults.
Perhaps the calves moved.
Received the HMW 4 leaflet from Lynx today, which includes the plate concerned. Thankfully the wayward 'calf' captions are now 'young', and positioned correctly.Got a mail yesterday from Lynx ref. the last volume of HMW with the information that now are plates and photos online. But I wonder if that plate about seals "Phocoenidae (Porpoises)" is the original one which will be in the book. I dislike the captions of the calfs on this plate because a few are out of the correct place! Are they blind?
http://www.lynxeds.com/hmw/plate/family-phocoenidae-porpoises
And the faulty plate has been removed from the Lynx website.
new version, Phocidae http://www.lynxeds.com/plate/family-phocidae-earless-seals
Looks good.
But a pity that only flight views are provided. :smoke:Looks very good!
Hrbek, da Silva, Dutra, Gravena, Martin & Farias 2014. A new species of river dolphin from Brazil or: how little do we know our biodiversity. PLoS ONE 9(1): e83623. [article] [pdf]
BBC News, 23 Jan 2014: Brazil dolphin is first new river species since 1918.
- Inia araguaiaensis sp nov - Araguaian Boto - Boto-do-Araguaia