Wikipedia:WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles

Summary

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Shortcut: WP:AAR

WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles is a WikiProject that aims to expand and organise Wikipedia's collection of entries about amphibians and reptiles, both living and extinct.

Related WikiProjects edit

This WikiProject is an offshoot of WikiProject Tree of Life

WikiProject Science
WikiProject Biology
WikiProject Tree of Life
WikiProject Animals
WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles
WikiProject Dinosaurs
Pterosaurs task force
WikiProject Turtles

It is worth keeping an eye on several Wikiprojects that overlap with this one or that have made significant progress towards completion, including WikiProject Birds, WikiProject Ecoregions, WikiProject Conservation worldwide and WikiProject Marine life.

Writing an article edit

At what level is it worth having a separate Wikipedia article for a particular amphibian or reptile? Any level you like! If we write individual articles for all the species, we will be at it for a long time! The simplest (and probably best) rule is to have no rule: if you have the time and energy to write up some particularly obscure subspecies that most people have never even heard of, go for it!

As a general guideline though, combine several species or subspecies into a single article when there isn't enough text to make more than short, unsatisfying stubs otherwise. If the article grows large enough to deserve splitting, that can always be done later.

Structure edit

This project follows guidelines discussed at WikiProject Tree of Life/article titles and Naming conventions (fauna).

Amphibian and reptile articles can be on any level that makes sense in context. Most will be about particular taxa. For example:

In many cases, it makes sense to combine several taxonomic levels in a single article. For example, the subfamily Rheobatrachinae contains only one genus, Rheobatrachus. All rheobatrachids are gastric-brooding frogs, so the one article covers both subfamily and genus levels.

Conversely, sometimes it is better to cover only a part of a taxon: Corroboree frog deals with two different (but related) species and ignores the other species in the genus Pseudophryne.

Some of the larger taxons, such as frogs, must be broken down into smaller articles to reduce article size. For example, with frog, the biology related sections remain in the article, and the popular culture section and list of families within that order are split into the Frogs in popular culture and List of Anuran families articles. A paragraph with a link to the separate article should be left within the main article (e.g. Frog#Taxonomy).

It may be useful to start with a high-level article, such as a family article, and then split off genus and/or species articles as the material builds.

Create links to articles on the levels immediately higher and lower. An article on a family such as true toads should link back to frogs, and down to the genus articles.

Article contents edit

The following items are desirable for articles of all levels, although the detail will vary depending on several factors. These items do not need to be separated into distinct sections; text should flow in continuous prose so far as possible. The order this information is included is also relatively unimportant, although the order listed is generally preferred.

  • Taxonomy (classification) - who discovered it? what's it related to? how does it fit into the tree of life? how many subspecies are there?
  • Description (physical, behavioral characteristics) - what makes this (group of) critter(s) different from its close relatives?
  • Distribution and habitat - where does it live? How broadly does it roam? Map images help.
  • Cultural, religious, economic, etc. importance - what impact has it had on humans? Include use for experimental purposes that do not relate to other headings.

Taxonomy edit

Crested gecko
 
Scientific classification  
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Diplodactylidae
Genus: Correlophus
Species:
C. ciliatus
Binomial name
Correlophus ciliatus
Guichenot, 1866
 
Approximate distribution of the crested gecko
Synonyms

Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Guichenot, 1866)

Certain choices have been made to follow specific taxonomies for the different groups of articles that fall under this WikiProject. Excluding our three descendant WikiProjects, the following sources are used as our primary taxonomic references:

  • Amphibia - The Amphibian Species of the World (AMNH database) together with Frost et al. (2006).
Taxonomy in Wikipedia is in many places out of sync with the ASW one. List showing discrepancies is available here: Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles/Amphibian taxonomy (lasted updated 31 March 2014).

In cases where a taxonomy has been selected, articles for newly described taxa that are not (yet) included in these taxonomies may still be added, but those articles describing the parent taxon should not be changed to suggest their inclusion. This rule does not apply if no taxonomy has been selected.

Cladograms can be requested for creation here: Wikipedia:WikiProject Tree of Life/Cladogram requests.

In general, amphibian and reptile entries should have a taxobox, a feature we inherited from the Tree of Life WikiProject. See Wikipedia:WikiProject Tree of Life/taxobox usage for guidelines on how to use a taxobox. Using an automatic taxobox/speciesbox simplifies future maintenance as a taxon will automatically inherit its parent taxon's parents — see Template:Automatic taxobox/doc and Template:Speciesbox.

Assessment edit


Task list and progress edit

As organized by WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles, the current tasks are:

  1. Create article for each Order and Family
  2. Ensure all Family articles are taxonomically consistent
    1. Ensure all articles between Order and Family rank are taxonomically consistent
  3. Create article for each Genus
    1. Ensure all articles between Family and Genus rank are taxonomically consistent
  4. Create articles for all Species
    1. Create links for all species articles on appropriate articles
    2. Create lists of uncreated articles to add to category pages:
      1. List of amphibians
      2. List of reptiles
      3. Prehistoric amphibian
  5. Create articles for aspects of amphibian and reptile biology, such as snake scales and vocal sac.
  6. Copyedit current article text to coincide with Wikipedia:Naming conventions (fauna) (e.g., convert "Coral Snake" to "coral snake").
  7. For articles with {{AARTalk}} templates, rank and assess articles that have not been given a rating or an importance rating (see Category:Unassessed_amphibian_and_reptile_articles).
  8. Find images for Category:Amphibian and reptile articles needing photos
view • edit • discuss • history • watch

Photographs edit

Please help find images for Category:Amphibian and reptile articles needing images and also remove those from list that now have a picture.

Please use and help maintain collections of photographs and other images such as:

  • Category:Chordate images

Note that Wikimedia Commons is the recommended repository for uploading images: (  Media related to Crocodilia at Wikimedia Commons)

Sample articles/lists edit

Some article under this WikiProject have been recognised for their excellence by the Wikipedia community as featured articles, and may serve as good models.

Recognized content edit

See full list at Wikipedia:WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles/Recognized content

Featured articles edit

Featured lists edit

Former featured lists edit

Good articles edit

The following are classified as good articles and may need some more work to reach featured status:

Some articles specially created under auspices of the WikiProject are:

Hot articles edit

22 edits Red salamander
20 edits Eretmosaurus
19 edits Largest prehistoric animals
19 edits 2024 in archosaur paleontology
15 edits Purussaurus
14 edits Polysphenodon
12 edits Axolotl
11 edits Dicrodon holmbergi
11 edits List of dinosaur genera
10 edits Micrurus mipartitus

These are the articles that have been edited the most within the last seven days. Last updated 29 March 2024 by HotArticlesBot.

Popular pages edit

See Wikipedia:WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles/Popular pages

Article alerts edit

Articles for deletion

  • 24 Mar 2024 – David S. Liem (talk · edit · hist) was AfDed by Klbrain (t · c); see discussion (5 participants)

Redirects for discussion

  • 22 Mar 2024 – Deep well fish (talk · edit · hist)Axolotl was RfDed by Utopes (t · c); see discussion

Requested moves

  • 26 Mar 2024 – Sauropsid (talk · edit · hist) is requested to be moved to Sauropsida by Hemiauchenia (t · c); see discussion
  • 15 Mar 2024Dinocephalosauridae (talk · edit · hist) move request to Trachelosauridae by NGPezz (t · c) was moved; see discussion

Articles to be merged

  • 04 Feb 2024 – Ophidiomorpha (talk · edit · hist) is proposed for merging to Mosasauria by Macrophyseter (t · c); see discussion
  • 04 Feb 2024 – Pythonomorpha (talk · edit · hist) is proposed for merging to Mosasauria by Macrophyseter (t · c); see discussion
  • 28 Dec 2023 – Contectopalatus (talk · edit · hist) is proposed for merging to Phalarodon by Slate Weasel (t · c); see discussion
  • 27 Dec 2023 – Cryopterygius (talk · edit · hist) is proposed for merging to Undorosaurus by Slate Weasel (t · c); see discussion
  • 08 Dec 2023 – Mikadocephalus (talk · edit · hist) is proposed for merging to Besanosaurus by Slate Weasel (t · c); see discussion
  • 30 Nov 2023 – Lizard (talk · edit · hist) is proposed for merging to Squamata by Hemiauchenia (t · c); see discussion

Articles to be split

  • 01 Nov 2020 – Corroboree frog (talk · edit · hist) is proposed for splitting by Bobamnertiopsis (t · c); see discussion

Articles for creation

New articles edit

This list was generated from these rules. Questions and feedback are always welcome! The search is being run daily with the most recent ~14 days of results. Note: Some articles may not be relevant to this project.

Rules | Match log | Results page (for watching) | Last updated: 2024-03-28 21:30 (UTC)

Note: The list display can now be customized by each user. See List display personalization for details.

  • Greg Sarff (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Finn Shipley (talk · contribs · new pages (26)) started on 2024-03-28, score: 40
  • Draft:Roger Stephen Thorpe (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs) by HillNL (talk · contribs · new pages (1)) started on 2024-03-27, score: 80

  • Bolton Lime Kiln and Quarry Conservation Area (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Swampyank (talk · contribs · new pages (6)) started on 2024-03-27, score: 40
  • Pena Branca & Xavantinho (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by PootisHeavy (talk · contribs · new pages (7)) started on 2024-03-27, score: 30
  • Serpentovirinae (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by AggieFish (talk · contribs · new pages (3)) started on 2024-03-27, score: 130

  • Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by ShakyIsles (talk · contribs · new pages (2)) started on 2024-03-26, score: 80
  • Kurixalus motokawai (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Darkfrog24 (talk · contribs · new pages (7)) started on 2024-03-25, score: 50

  • Draft:Scoutmaster, Gary (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs) by 24.165.97.25 (talk · contribs · new pages (1)) started on 2024-03-24, score: 40

  • Kurixalus viridescens (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Darkfrog24 (talk · contribs · new pages (7)) started on 2024-03-24, score: 60

  • Kurixalus hainanus (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Darkfrog24 (talk · contribs · new pages (7)) started on 2024-03-23, score: 50
  • Arnstadt Formation (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Hemiauchenia (talk · contribs · new pages (3)) started on 2024-03-22, score: 50
  • Parvosaurus (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Hemiauchenia (talk · contribs · new pages (3)) started on 2024-03-22, score: 40

  • List of amphibians of Malta (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by ToadetteEdit (talk · contribs · new pages (95)) started on 2024-03-22, score: 140
  • Pebanista (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Armin Reindl (talk · contribs · new pages (1)) started on 2024-03-21, score: 40
  • Kermitops (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by SlvrHwk (talk · contribs · new pages (20)) started on 2024-03-21, score: 40

  • The Message of William Branham (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Fox de Quintal (talk · contribs · new pages (3)) started on 2024-03-21, score: 40
  • Folklore, legends and myths in Dombey and Son (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Andreachlc0203 (talk · contribs · new pages (16)) started on 2024-03-20, score: 30
  • The Dragon-Prince and the Stepmother (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by KHR FolkMyth (talk · contribs · new pages (2)) started on 2024-03-20, score: 30

  • Template:POTD/2024-04-05 (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs) by Amakuru (talk · contribs · new pages (97)) started on 2024-03-20, score: 40
  • Category:Snakes of Japan (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs) by Yinweiaiqing (talk · contribs · new pages (72)) started on 2024-03-20, score: 40

  • Licancabur (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Gerdbreitenbach~enwiki (talk · contribs · new pages (1)) started on 2024-03-18, score: 50

  • Kurixalus chaseni (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Darkfrog24 (talk · contribs · new pages (7)) started on 2024-03-18, score: 60
  • Seshachalam Hills biosphere (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Njoy deep (talk · contribs · new pages (3)) started on 2024-03-18, score: 30
  • Sea-Arama Marineworld (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Mk170101 (talk · contribs · new pages (1)) started on 2024-03-18, score: 70
  • Argovisaurus (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by SlvrHwk (talk · contribs · new pages (20)) started on 2024-03-18, score: 40
  • Draft:Every marvel Character ever (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs) by Supamario111 (talk · contribs · new pages (1)) started on 2024-03-17, score: 85
  • Draft:Gaborone Game Reserve (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs) by M5637 (talk · contribs · new pages (1)) started on 2024-03-17, score: 40
  • Category:Mythological and legendary Japanese snakes (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs) by Yinweiaiqing (talk · contribs · new pages (72)) started on 2024-03-18, score: 40
  • Category:Mythological and legendary Chinese snakes (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs) by Yinweiaiqing (talk · contribs · new pages (72)) started on 2024-03-18, score: 40

  • Mostyn Pigott (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Shyamal (talk · contribs · new pages (23)) started on 2024-03-17, score: 40
  • Buckhorn, Colorado (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by CaroleHenson (talk · contribs · new pages (22)) started on 2024-03-17, score: 40

  • Anatolian banded newt (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by 2601:249:9380:B340:219B:9C37:1F4B:3B81 (talk · contribs · new pages (2)) started on 2024-03-16, score: 60
  • Oreophryne phoebe (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Micromesistius (talk · contribs · new pages (1)) started on 2024-03-16, score: 70
  • Southern Coastal Plain (ecoregion) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by MiseDominic (talk · contribs · new pages (2)) started on 2024-03-16, score: 70
  • List of erinaceids (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by PresN (talk · contribs · new pages (10)) started on 2024-03-16, score: 50
  • Category:Archelosauria (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs) by Dimadick (talk · contribs · new pages (115)) started on 2024-03-16, score: 120

  • Tanysauria (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by SlvrHwk (talk · contribs · new pages (20)) started on 2024-03-15, score: 40
  • Grand Daoui (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Travisvanvelzen (talk · contribs · new pages (1)) started on 2024-03-14, score: 60
  • Paleontological site (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools) by Srr9810 (talk · contribs · new pages (9)) started on 2024-03-14, score: 30

  • Draft:Doitnowman (2002) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs) by Captain Wingy (talk · contribs · new pages (2)) started on 2024-03-14, score: 40
  • Draft:Massif du Mercantour-Argentera (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs) by Excellenc1 (talk · contribs · new pages (2)) started on 2024-03-14, score: 40

Cleanup listing edit

 

A list of articles needing cleanup associated with this project is available. See also the tool's wiki page and the index of WikiProjects.

WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles barnstar edit

{{WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles barnstar}} is awarded to recognize great devotion in the creation and maintenance of high quality articles related to amphibians and/or reptiles. Use {{subst:WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles barnstar|message --~~~~}} to award this barnstar with the frog/amphibian image.

  WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles barnstar
Awarded to recognize great devotion in the creation and maintenance of high quality articles related to amphibians. Thank you!

Use {{subst:WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles barnstar|message --~~~~|alt}} to award this barnstar with the snake/reptile image.

  WikiProject Amphibians and Reptiles barnstar
Awarded to recognize great devotion in the creation and maintenance of high quality articles related to reptiles. Thank you!

Associated portals edit

Associated portals include:

  • Portal:Amphibians
    • Portal:Frogs
  • Portal:Reptiles