Flag for Taxon: Southeast Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus musanga)
| Flagger | Content Author | Content | Reason | Flag Created | Resolved by | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bdagley | bobby23 | Southeast Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus musanga) |
musanga should change to musangus (for the genus and subspecies). |
Jun. 20, 2021 04:04:00 +0000 | bobby23 |
Swapped, with explanation for deviation from MDD detailed in Framework. |
Comments
This is an intentional deviation.
The root of "musanga" is an indigenous word for the animal, and it was decided among curators to retain it over musangus, a change that has been retained by the MDD as seen here.
More details here: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxon_changes/65449
Could you explain the meaning of "retained" by MDD? MDD refer to "name as originally described," what was once subspecies P. h. musanga, by (Raffles, 1821). But, P. musangus is also (Raffles, 1821). I agree indigenous names are good to consider (probably related to musangus too, though- they often are used in original valid names). But, I've never heard of and don't agree that iNaturalist shouldn't use valid taxonomic names. The meaning of "valid species" would be lost, and it would cause a translation difficulty between platforms. Sources such as GBIF (which iNat records transfer to) use musangus. I'd be open to reading any more sources about why "musangus" was first used (which I don't know), although my view is to use valid taxa. For common names, I am more flexible (there's a better fitting opportunity to create new names there).
Viverra musanga was a synonym of Paradoxurus hermaphroditus musanga [both followed by: (Raffles, 1821)]. You can double check, but I think P. h. musanga came after Viverra. jwidness said the name might not change if the genus changed. If it was Viverra -> Paradoxurus (or whichever name came first), the spelling musanga didn't change in that syn. But, I think the next later change was to become P. musangus (a subspecies of one genus changed to a different species of the same genus). I agree this may be complicated, to know. I just think without further information Vernon et al. are most reliable in this case (the other flag mentioned MDD even cited Vernon et al. but didn't use the name they used). I would also prefer someone email Vernon et al. to see their opinion.
I apologize for the ambiguity. By "retain", I meant MDD treats Paradoxurus musanga as the accepted name for the species and P. musangus as a junior synonym, as shown here, so, from my perspective, iNaturalist is using the valid taxonomic name.
Additional context is here. I would be more willing to change the name if it did not involve three mammal curators on iNaturalist, and if it was not already the preferential name used by our external mammal authority.
I just updated my comment above with more clarification, to check.
The earliest description I am familiar of this species is in Raffles 1822, which treats that taxon as Viverra musanga, which I would take to mean musanga takes priority of musangus.
EDIT: I was writing this while you were submitting the other comment, and the revisions made didn't load in time. Sorry about the repetition!
I should've also said. I understand iNat often uses specific sources/authorities for names, for given wildlife groups. Although there's been curation discussions in the Forum (about sources), and in the way the guidelines are written, that indicate any valid source/citation can be used for taxon changes (if valid), which is the approach I take. An exception would be if a new article were too unclear or debated. In the case of Vernon et al. (which MDD actually tried to cite, the other flag says), the naming seems to be accepted mainstream. I agree it's often useful to have primary sources for names overall. But on a basis of individual changes other sources are often needed. No sources are complete and updated in time, so I use all of them.
I agree the situation is complicated. I would be more than willing to contact Vernon et al. to see what they have to say, but I hope it's okay to wait to reach out until tomorrow. It's quite late in my time zone, and I'm cat-sitting tomorrow, which will give me amble time to reach out.
I'm not exactly sure yet which name "should" take priority (in mainstream taxonomic changes). I assumed Vernon et al. (or any before them that used musangus) did it correctly. If you can show they did not, I would agree. I would prefer we also ask them, I could email him.
Sure, it's no problem. It's after 3am.
@bdagley I just wanted you to know that I have contacted Dr. Geraldine Veron (which, based on additional infraspecific revisions I have made to Viverridae, I've come to understand is one of the world authority's on civets, which is really cool). I'll let you know whenever she responds.
This sounds good.
Dr. Veron has responded with the following:
"I asked confirmation to Annemarie Ohler, expert in taxonomy and in the Code. In the original description (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/754982#page/281/mode/1up) Raffles named it "MUSANG BULAN" in Malay, and by using Viverra musanga, he seems to be making musang an adjective (so: "musangus, musanga, musangum" which must be declined). Thus we think it should be Paradoxurus musangus."
(French is Dr. Veron's first language, not English, so please excuse any minor errors.)
When I google her, I have found that Dr. Annemarie Ohler seems to be a member of the International Committee of Zoologic Nomenclature or has at least contributed to it. Since Dr. Veron is the lead author of the literature that is being cited by the MDD, and Dr. Ohler agrees that it should be in agreement with the genus its attached to, then P. musangus should take priority over P. musanga.
See:
GBIF: Paradoxurus musangus (Raffles, 1821) (https://www.gbif.org/species/11001339).
Veron et al. (2015). How many species of Paradoxurus civets are there? New insights from India and Sri Lanka. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 53(2), 161-174. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267696617_How_many_species_of_Paradoxurus_civets_are_there_New_insights_from_India_and_Sri_Lanka.
(multiple past revisions between being a species and subspecies may account for "musanga" having previously been used as the subspecies)