Documenting Your Collections
Info-Muse Network Documentation Guide

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Subspecies (Taxonomy)

Definition:

Observation:

• For better search results in your database, avoid a large variety of terms; draw up an authority list and add names as necessary.

Entry rules:

1. Enter the full name; do not use abbreviations.
   Example

   	Discipline	zoology
   	Genus	Lutra
   	Species	canadensis
   	Subspecies	lataxina

2. In accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature, the first letter of the taxon is lower case.
   Example

   	Discipline	ornithology
   	Genus	Galbalcyrhynchus
   	Species	leucotis
   	Subspecies	leucotis

3. Do not enter the word "subspecies" before the name of the subspecies.
   Example

   	Subspecies	papuensis
   	and not
   	Subspecies	subspecies papuensis

4. If the specimen includes several subspecies, enter each of the names, followed by a semicolon and a space.
   Example

   	Discipline	ornithology
   	Genus	Buteo
   	Species	jamaicensis
   	Subspecies	abieticola; borealis

5. If you are unsure whether your information is correct, include a space and a question mark after the name.
   Example

   	Subspecies	acadicus ?

6. If you know that the specimen comes from a subspecies and you have not identified the subspecies, enter "ssp".
   Example

   	Discipline	zoology
   	Genus	Lutra
   	Species	canadensis
   	Subspecies	ssp