DELTA for Beginners. An introduction into the taxonomy software package DELTA

Abstract

An introduction to the software package DELTA (DEscription Language for TAxonomy) is given. Th e contribution consists of step by step instructions into the DELTA Editor and the interactive identifi cation program Intkey. It describes how to record taxonomic character information in a database and maintain these data. Standard output functions are simplifi ed in a new starter database. All used commands are commented and it is marked where changes in the command fi les are required. Th e paper explains how to generate text descriptions, interactive identifi cation tools, and how to make keys and species diagnoses.

The first records of Stenobermuda Schultz, 1982 and Tenupedunculus Schultz, 1979 from Australia, with description of two new species from the Great Barrier Reef (Isopoda, Asellota, Stenetriidae)

“…See Bruce and Buxton (2013) for a detailed account of pereopod morphology. Descriptions were generated using a DELTA database (Dallwitz et al 2006;Coleman et al 2010). Whole animals were drawn using a stereomicroscope (Leica MZ125, Wetzlar, Germany) and dissected appendages were drawn using a light microscope (Leica DM2500, Wetzlar, Germany) equipped with differential interference contrast and a camera lucida.…”

First Record of Norileca indica (Isopoda, Cymothoidae) Parasitic on Selar crumenophthalmus and Decapterus kurroides (Perciformes, Carangidae) in the Philippines

“…Isopods were analysed following the techniques of Hadfield et al (2010Hadfield et al ( , 2013. Species descriptions were made with the aid of the taxonomy software package DELTA (Descriptive Language for Taxonomy) (see Coleman et al 2010), following a general Cymothoidae character data set originally developed by Hadfield et al (2013) and recently updated (Hadfield et al 2016). Ratios and measurements for the description were made using the maximum values at the middle of the specific measured article, and all proportional measurements were rounded to one decimal place.…”

A new genus of Stenetriidae Hansen, 1905 (Asellota: Isopoda: Crustacea) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia and the southwestern Pacific

“…See Bruce & Buxton (2013) for a detailed account of field methods; DELTA (Dallwitz 1980;Dallwitz et al 1997Dallwitz et al , 2006Coleman et al 2010) was used to prepare descriptions; character sets for both genera and species have been further refined and developed to include the new taxa. Measurements methods and definitions for pereopod 1 are given in Bruce & Buxton (2013).…”