Archaeocyatha, a computer-aided identification of genera
CNRS (UMR 7207,Centre de recherche sur la paléobiodiversité et les paléoenvironnements), Laboratoire Informatique et Systématique, MNHN Département Histoire de la Terre, Bâtiment de Géologie, CP48, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris (France); kerner@mnhn.fr
Abstract
An online service is proposed for recognition of the genera of a Cambrian fossil group, the Archaeocyatha, using Xper2. It stores, edits and publishes the descriptive data compiled in the available documentation and provides a free access key. Why Archaeocyatha? They are well studied by an international cooperation, so avoiding most of the problems of an abundant and contradictory nomenclature as well as quarrels about the taxonomic rank of the taxa. Any geologist finding new Cambrian faunas may use this easy tool to help the identification of the collected material. The archaeocyath knowledge base comprises: 307 valid genera, their Cambrian stratigraphical and geographical distribution. Each genus is defined by figures of the type-specimen and 120 descriptors, each one comprising definition, pictures and character states. If an incomplete specimen cannot be identified at the genus level using traditional diagnosis, identification can be obtained with the free access key. Xper2 offers tools to analyze geographic and systematic data of the knowledge base, to create lists of taxa for local faunal revisions, and to compare relationships between genera of the same taxonomic rank. The knowledge base is interactive and could be modified and improved at any moment. This work is permanently up to date and in progress.