Southern African Mammals 1758 to 1951: A Reclassification

Handley, Charles O.; Ellerman, J. R.; Morrison-Scott, T. C. S.; Hayman, R.W.

doi:10.2307/1376005

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…One reviewer of their Mammals of Southern Africa (Ellerman et al., ) observed: “Their ‘species’ is frequently equal to the ‘species group’ of American taxonomists. It often appears that to them the criterion of conspecifity is gross resemblance, demonstration of intergradations is unnecessary, and broad overlap of ranges of ‘subspecies’ is an unimportant detail” (Handley, , p. 460).…”

Section: Historical Perspective On Ungulate Taxonomy In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After publication of the influential books of Dobzhansky (); Huxley () and Mayr () advocating the BSC, and following the lead of Allen (), mammalogists at the then British Museum (Natural History) seemed to take it as their duty to revise the mammal checklists of the Old World mammals in light of the New Systematics and the BSC (Ellerman & Morrison‐Scott, ; Ellerman et al., ). Judging from at least two critical book reviews (Handley, ; Ansell, 1958 a ), the immediate response to Ellerman and colleagues was that they had gone too far in lumping ‘species’ of Old World mammals. One reviewer of their Mammals of Southern Africa (Ellerman et al., ) observed: “Their ‘species’ is frequently equal to the ‘species group’ of American taxonomists.…”

Section: Historical Perspective On Ungulate Taxonomy In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of taxonomic inertia for the conservation ofAfrican ungulate diversity: an overview

et al. 2017

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We review the state of African ungulate taxonomy over the last 120 years, with an emphasis on the introduction of the polytypic species concept and the discipline's general neglect since the middle of the 20th century. We single out negative consequences of 'orthodox' taxonomy, highlighting numerous cases of neglect of threatened lineages, unsound translocations that led to lineage introgression, and cases of maladaptation to local conditions including parasitic infections. Additionally, several captive breeding programmes have been hampered by chromosome rearrangements caused by involuntary lineage mixing. We advocate that specimen-based taxonomy should regain its keystone role in mammal research and conservation biology, with its scientific values augmented with genomic evidence. While integration with molecular biology, ecology and behaviour is needed for a full understanding of ungulate alpha diversity, we stress that morphological diversity has been neglected despite its tremendous practical importance for some groups of 'utilizers' such as trophy hunters, wildlife tourists and conservationists. We conclude that there is no evidence that purported 'taxonomic inflation' has adverse effects on ungulate conservation: rather, it is taxonomic inertia that has such adverse effects. We stress that sound science, founded on robust taxonomy, should underpin effective sustainable management (hunting, ranching, captive breeding and reintroduction programmes) of this unique African natural resource.

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Section: Historical Perspective On Ungulate Taxonomy In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Historical Perspective On Ungulate Taxonomy In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%