Taxonomy Takes Time: Shortcuts to Synonymy

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  Taxonomy Takes Time: Shortcuts to Synonymy Abstract Taxonomy is the foundation of biology, providing the currency (species) for biological studies and the handle (epithet) to refer to them. The task at hand is urgent: a race against extinction as most species remain undescribed and expertise declines. In response, various ‘rapid taxonomy’ approaches aim to hasten descriptions. Good examples exist that genuinely accelerate the growth of taxonomic knowledge, but shortcuts risk errors that may take more time to resolve than the original work took to produce. Authors must consider (1) the total time budget, including subsequent revisions necessitated by inadequate taxonomy; (2) the taxonomic literature on regional and widespread taxa; and (3) illustration quality as a critical and enduring component of species description. Reviewers and editors must also ensure minimum standards. I discuss a recent example where shortcuts, instead of accelerating taxonomy, merely borrowed time. Anelo...

A review of Idiommata Ausserer, 1871 (Mygalomorphae: Barychelidae), with the description of a related new genus and new species of giant Australian brush-footed spiders

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A review of Idiommata Ausserer, 1871 (Mygalomorphae: Barychelidae), with the description of a related new genus and new species of giant Australian brush-footed spiders

Abstract

The barychelid genus Idiommata Ausserer, 1871 is reviewed: the type species Idiommata blackwalli O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1870 is diagnosed and variability of characters in males discussed. Idiommata is rediagnosed to include only I. blackwalli and I. scintillans (Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918), which lack intercheliceral peg setae. The female paralectotype of Idiommata scintillans is placed in Synothele Simon, 1908 and described as a new species, Synothele xintillans sp. nov., from South Australia. A new genus, Zidiommata gen. nov., is described for I. fusca L. Koch, 1874 (for which males are described), I. iridescens (Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918) and two new species, Z. simonmaraisi sp. nov. and Z. steveirwini sp. nov., all of which have intercheliceral pegs and are found in eastern Australia.

Raven, R.J. (2026) A review of Idiommata Ausserer, 1871 (Mygalomorphae: Barychelidae), with the description of a related new genus and new species of giant Australian brush-footed spiders. Zootaxa, 5821 (2), 151–175. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5821.2.1