Table of Contents

I. Introduction 1. Introduction 2. Biological Nomenclature II. Recognizing Species 3. Species and Their Discovery Species Concepts 4. Establishing Identity: The Literature Search 5. Establishing Identity: Using Museum Collections III. Writing Species Descriptions 6. Species Descriptions in Taxonomy 7. Headings and Synonymies 8. Naming Species: Etymology 9. Type and Voucher Material 10. Diagnosis 11. Description Section 12. Taxonomic Discussion Section 13. The Ecology Section 14. Occurrence and Distribution 15. Material Examined 16. Publication IV. Beyond Species Description 17. Subspecies 18. Genus-Level Description and Revision 19. Keys 20. Description of Higher Taxa 21. Common Problems 22. Further Studies in Systematics Literature Cited

Promotional Information

A basic practical manual for the process of describing new species, this desperately needed desk reference and guide to nomenclatural procedure and taxonomic writing serves as a Strunk & White of species description, covering both botanical and zoological codes of nomenclature.

About the Author

Judith E. Winston is director of research at the Virginia Museum of Natural History and a former curator and chair of the Department of Invertebrates at the American Museum of Natural History.

Reviews

This book is probably the most exhaustive treatment available of the practical aspects of describing new species or higher taxa. -- Henry Disney, Cambridge University Nature A practical manual for all biologists, especially ecologists and other field naturalists, professionals or students, who are immersed in biodiversity and are likely to discover new or unknown species...The principal qualities of Winston's manual reside in its simple writing, direct and free of superfluous jargon, in the profusion of concrete and recent examples, and in its rich bibliography. -- Pierre Brunel, University of Montreal Ecoscience Fascinating reading. CABI Bioscience ... should be read by all students on biodiversity courses. Biologist