Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

THE PHYLOGENY AND HIGHER CLASSIFICATION OF THE STAPHYLINIDAE AND THEIR ALLIED GROUPS (COLEOPTERA, STAPHYLINOIDEA)

This paper deals with the phylogeny and higher classification of the Staphylinidae auct. and their allied groups, i. e., Pselaphidae auct., Scaphidiidae auct., Scydmaenidae auct., Silphidae auct., and Catopiaria. The ground plan conditions of the Staphylinoidea are briefly described concerning the morphological characters useful for phylogenetic analysis. The phylogeny of the Staphylinidae and their allied groups is inferred, principally using the Hennigian method of phylogenetic analysis. Based on my phylogenetic study, a higher classification of the section Brachelytra is newly proposed. The family Staphylinidae auct. is divided into three families, Oxytelidae sensu novo, Staphylinidae sensu novo, and Oxyporidae sensu novo. The Pselaphidae auct. are included in the Oxyporidae sensu novo. Accordingly, the section Brachelytra is classified into six families : Silphidae, Oxytelidae sensu novo, Staphylinidae sensu novo, Oxyporidae sensu novo, Scaphidiidae and Scydmaenidae

Taxonomic Study of Stenus bicara Naomi and Its Allied Species (Coleoptera : Staphylinidae) from Japan

Stenus bicara Naomi and its allied species are taxonomically studied, and a new species, Stenus yukawai from Shizuoka Prefecture is described. A key for S. bicara and its allied species is given for indentification

THE PHYLOGENY AND HIGHER CLASSIFICATION OF THE STAPHYLINIDAE AND THEIR ALLIED GROUPS (COLEOPTERA, STAPHYLINOIDEA)

This paper deals with the phylogeny and higher classification of the Staphylinidae auct. and their allied groups, i. e., Pselaphidae auct., Scaphidiidae auct., Scydmaenidae auct., Silphidae auct., and Catopiaria. The ground plan conditions of the Staphylinoidea are briefly described concerning the morphological characters useful for phylogenetic analysis. The phylogeny of the Staphylinidae and their allied groups is inferred, principally using the Hennigian method of phylogenetic analysis. Based on my phylogenetic study, a higher classification of the section Brachelytra is newly proposed. The family Staphylinidae auct. is divided into three families, Oxytelidae sensu novo, Staphylinidae sensu novo, and Oxyporidae sensu novo. The Pselaphidae auct. are included in the Oxyporidae sensu novo. Accordingly, the section Brachelytra is classified into six families : Silphidae, Oxytelidae sensu novo, Staphylinidae sensu novo, Oxyporidae sensu novo, Scaphidiidae and Scydmaenidae

Taxonomic Study of Stenus bicara Naomi and Its Allied Species (Coleoptera : Staphylinidae) from Japan

Stenus bicara Naomi and its allied species are taxonomically studied, and a new species, Stenus yukawai from Shizuoka Prefecture is described. A key for S. bicara and its allied species is given for indentification

STUDIES ON THE SUBFAMILY STENINAE (COLEOPTERA, STAPHYLINIDAE) FROM JAPAN, XVI. DESCRIPTIONS OF FOUR NEW SPECIES OF THE SUBGENUS HYPOSTENUS OF THE GENUS STENUS LATREILLE

Four new species of the subgenus Hypostenus of the genus Stenus Latreille, Stenus amma, S. uenoi, S. musatakai, and S. warabi are described and their male genitalia are figured for comparison

STUDIES ON THE SUBFAMILY STENINAE (COLEOPTERA, STAPHYLINIDAE) FROM JAPAN, XVI. DESCRIPTIONS OF FOUR NEW SPECIES OF THE SUBGENUS HYPOSTENUS OF THE GENUS STENUS LATREILLE

Four new species of the subgenus Hypostenus of the genus Stenus Latreille, Stenus amma, S. uenoi, S. musatakai, and S. warabi are described and their male genitalia are figured for comparison