ZooKeys published a landmark monograph on the higher classification and nomenclature of beetles (Coleoptera)

A dedicated team of specialists in beetle systematics from around the globe have collaborated in a comprehensive, nearly 1000-pages monograph, of what is known about the higher classification and nomenclature of beetles, producing a complete catalogue of the nearly 5000 known extant and fossil high-level classification names for the first time. The data are presented in a classification framework and the publication dates are given for the majority of the more than 2500 references cited, in order to assess both availability and priority of the names.  A synoptic classification of world Coleoptera to the level of subtribes is provided as well.

The monograph is published in open access and is free to anyone to download, read, distribute and use and is also available in hardcover from the publisher.

One of the goals of these works is to provide a foundation of valid, accepted names, which will alleviate the unnecessary proposal of new taxa, facilitate decisions on priority, promote long-term stability of the classification, and pave the way for the ongoing transition of classical taxonomy into taxonomy of the digital age, or cybertaxonomy.

Although some nomenclatural problems will still need to be addressed in the future, this monograph, the largest of its kind in the zoological literature, will hopefully go a long way towards achieving the long-term stability of beetle nomenclature that is necessary for a coherent handling of names by largest international bioinformatics platforms such as Global Names Architecture (GNA), Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Catalogue of Life and others.

Bouchard P, Bousquet Y, Davies AE, Alonso-Zarazaga MA, Lawrence JF, Lyal CHC, Newton AF, Reid CAM, Schmitt M, Ślipiński SA, Smith ABT (2011) Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta). ZooKeys 88: 1-972, doi: 10.3897/zookeys.88.807.

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