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Re: Location Codes
Joe is right, errors in transcription lead to massive confusion. We all
have to be very careful about copying these location codes. As an example,
I can tell you that when we were preparing for the convention we received
from Europe a list of fish that were available as new species. N.
fuscotaeniatus "Kitonga N. TAN 97/9" was already represented by three
different names, one of which was right, and two of which were incorrectly
transcribed. As we collected them in June 1997, these must have been F1s.
So, there were already two erroneous names in circulation by the time F1
fish were available. Pretty amazing. Incidentally, we did not order them as
I had fish to contribute to the convention, so we did not propagate that
particular error.
Barry
>
>Sorry to disagree with you Bill, but I feel these damnable fish bags are the
>source of many of the location code errors in the hobby today. Notice how
>many people handle the bags prior to an auction. The chances of a
>number/letter being obliterated or modified (a 7 becomming a 1 etc.)
>increases with each handling. Then there's the error of people talking
>while the bags are being marked and the marker transposes or mis-spells a
>location code.
>
>It's easy to copy the info on the bag, but that's no assurance of accuracy.
>The only sure way of maintaining accuracy is to research the species you are
>working with to identify all the collection codes/locations. In most of the
>genus we do not have the good fortune of a "master directory" such as Brian
>has put on the Nothos.
>
>In addition to the "Wild Collections..." by Langton, another valuable
>resource is Huber's "Killi-Data". 1996 is the most current edition and much
>of the info is available on line thru the AKA site. Both hard copies are
>available thru the AKA. (End of commercial.)
>
>Having said all that, I must relate a little tale about collection codes. I
>have many of the elegans complex and one species in particular A. elegans
>Madimba has many errors floating around. I have identified no less than
>three errors which are variations of this location. Several years ago while
>corresponding with a gentleman overseas about some of the complex he
>mentioned A. elegans Mondimbi. In my next letter I casually mentioned that
>the correct spelling was Madimba, whereupon he immdeiately responded with
>the suggestion that I do a little research into the species before I correct
>anyone's locations. He was right :-( there is a Mondimbi it is not a
>degradition of Madimba. Moral of the story is that having the resources is
>no good unless you use them.
>
>Joe Weber
__________________________________________________________________
Barry Cooper, Chair email: bjc3 at cornell_edu
Department of Biomedical Sciences Voice: (607)253-3336
Section of Pathology FAX: (607)253-3317
College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
__________________________________________________________________