Source databases
 
 
 

The data in the 2012 Annual Checklist have been provided by 115 databases. Of these 14 are new to this edition and 44 have been updated over the past year (three databases have been updated twice during the annual cycle). Most datasets include one or more global species database sectors (GSDs), i.e. datasets being developed to cover all of the world's species in a particular group of organisms. A few datasets provide regional information for groups not yet covered globally. The datasets result from collaboration and editing by many expert taxonomists, whose names are found in the datasets themselves. A brief summary is listed below giving: database short and full names; home page on the web; the author(s) or editor(s); organisation; the group for which data are provided, preceded by its higher classification; and the number of species and infraspecific taxa included in this checklist.

Dataset Qualifiers
In this edition of the Catalogue of Life we introduce "Dataset Qualifiers" which shown in the interface. Qualifiers give users a quick guide to the reliability of presented data. Qualifiers have been given by authors/editors of each database and appear on the Database Details page, and alongside, with the database name on each Species Details page. Qualifiers reflect data reliability in the Catalogue of Life only, and are not applicable to the original view of the database throught its own website. Qualifiers include:

• Geographical Coverage (values G for "Global" and R for "Regional")
• Dataset Completeness (values 1 - 100%)
• Checklist Confidence (values —, see below for details)
Caution! This data set does not contain a scrutinised taxonomic checklist, and in parts may be a list of names only. However, as the only available resource at the time, it was included in the Catalogue of Life to fill temporarily a major gap. See database abstract for more details.
Caution! This data set is a scrutinised taxonomic checklist, but is incomplete and at an early stage of its development. See database abstract for more details.
This is a well scrutinised taxonomic checklist but is restricted to a subset of species by geography, or sector of biological discipline (conservation, medical and molecular oriented systems, etc). This data set was included in the Catalogue of Life to fill temporarily gaps at lower levels of the taxonomic classification (e.g. species, genera). See database abstract for more details.
This is a nearly complete and fully scrutinised taxonomic checklist with a good quality of expertise at the current stage of its development.
This is a complete and fully scrutinised taxonomic checklist for an entire taxon with a high quality of expertise and frequent updates, which covers nearly all known species diversity in the taxon worldwide.


Source database English name of the group Species descending
LepIndex: The Global Lepidoptera Names Index Butterflies and moths 242,993
Systema Dipterorum Flies, mosquitoes, bots, midges and gnats 138,934
WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 99 families of seed plants 106,715
WTaxa: Electronic Catalogue of Weevil names (Curculionoidea) Weevils 98,263
ITIS Regional: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System Wide range of taxa in all kingdoms 76,560
ITIS Global: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System Wide range of global taxonomic checlists of different taxa 68,091
Taxapad Ichneumonoidea Ichneumonid and braconid wasps 42,371
Scarabs: World Scarabaeidae Database Scarab beetles 34,528
SpidCat: The World Spider Catalog Spiders 34,245
TITAN: Cerambycidae database Longhorn beetles, timber beetles 33,140
GCC: Global Compositae Checklist Aster or sunflower family 32,974
Species Fungorum Fungi; protozoan fungi; chromistan fungi 32,596
FishBase Fishes 32,018
AlgaeBase Seaweeds and other algae, including blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) 31,003
OrthopteraSF: Orthoptera Species File Grasshoppers, locusts, katydids, crickets 24,423
IOPI Global Plant Checklist Cycads and 6 families of seed plants 23,630
ITIS Bees: World Bee Checklist Bees 20,455
ILDIS World Database of Legumes Legumes 19,949
UCD: Universal Chalcidoidea Database Chalcidoid wasps 19,847
MOWD: Membracoidea of the World Database Treehoppers and leafhoppers 15,392
CCW: Catalogue of Craneflies of the World Craneflies 14,834
MOST: Moss TROPICOS Database Mosses 13,365
URMO: UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms Many groups of marine invertebrates and chordates 12,510
FLOW: Fulgoromorpha Lists On the WEB Planthoppers 11,719
WoRMS Polychaeta: World List of Polychaeta Bristle worms 10,947
WoRMS Isopoda: World List of Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans Pillbugs, slaters and woodlice 10,225
SysMyr: Systematic Myriapod Database Diplopods, pauropods and symphylans 10,106
Umbellifers: World Umbellifer Database NEW! Imbellifers, carrot or parsley family 9,331
CilCat: The World Ciliate Catalog NEW! Ciliates 8,699
TIGR Reptile Database Reptiles 8,656
WoRMS Porifera: World Porifera Database Sponges 8,334
ScaleNet: Systematic Database of the Scale Insects of the World Scale insects 7,090
WoRMS Brachyura: World List of Marine Brachyura NEW! Crabs 6,999
LIAS: A Global Information System for Lichenized and Non-Lichenized Ascomycetes Lichens 6,968
BIOS: Bacteriology Insight Orienting System Bacteria, archaea 6,749
LDL Neuropterida Species of the World Lacewings, antlions, owlflies, fishflies, dobsonflies & snakeflies 6,256
ZOBODAT: Zoological-Botanical Database (Vespoidea) Vespid wasps 6,207
Odonata: Global Species Database Odonata Dragonflies and damselflies 5,912
WoRMS Bryozoa: World Marine Bryozoa Database Bryozoans, moss animals 5,654
SalticidDB: Global Species Database of Salticidae (Araneae) Jumping spiders 5,601
AphidSF: Aphid Species File Aphids and allied groups 4,867
NZIB: New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity Various animalian taxa from New Zealand 4,577
MELnet: Melastomataceae.Net NEW! Melastomes 4,539
3i Typhlocybinae: 3i interactive keys and taxonomic databases, subfamily Typhlocybinae Leafhoppers 4,508
BlattodeaSF: Blattodea Species File Cockroaches 4,487
Brassicaceae species checklist and database Crucifers, mustard or cabbage family 3,778
WoRMS Hydrozoa: World Hydrozoa Database NEW! Hydroids 3,397
PlecopteraSF: Plecoptera Species File Stoneflies 3,279
ChiloBase: A World Catalogue of Centipedes (Chilopoda) for the web Centipedes 3,146
PhasmidaSF: Phasmida Species File Stick and leaf insects 2,959
Dothideomycetes 2,858
AnnonBase: World Species List of Annonaceae Custard apples 2,512
COOL: Cercopoidea Organised On Line Froghoppers 2,461
Tineidae NHM: Global Taxonomic Database of Tineidae (Lepidoptera) Clothes-moths 2,443
Psyl'list: Psylloidea database Jumping plant lice 2,429
MantodeaSF: Mantodea Species File Praying mantids 2,403
Mites GSDs: PhytoseiidBase Phytoseiid mites 2,186
3i Cicadellinae: 3i interactive keys and taxonomic databases, subfamily Cicadellinae Leafhoppers 2,137
ICTV/MSL: International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses / Master Species List Viruses and subviral agents 2,083
WoRMS Ophiuroidea: World Ophiuroidea Database Brittle stars and basket stars 2,054
Parhost: World Database of Fleas Fleas 2,047
Rotifera Database Rotifers 1,996
World Gracillariidae: Global Taxonomic Database of Gracillariidae Gracillariid moths 1,855
WoRMS Asteroidea: World Asteroidea Database Starfish or sea stars 1,855
WoRMS Holothuroidea: World List of Holothuroidea NEW! Sea cucumbers 1,669
GloBIS (GART): Global Butterfly Information System Swallowtails and whites 1,635
WoRMS Cumacea: World Cumacea Database Cumaceans or hooded shrimps 1,529
Phyllachorales Tropical tar-spot fungi 1,372
SpmWeb: Spider Mites Web Spider mites 1,265
WoRMS Nemertea: World List of Nemertea Ribbon worms 1,247
WoRMS Tanaidacea: World List of Tanaidacea NEW! Tanaids 1,114
Nomen.eumycetozoa.com Slime moulds 1,092
Solanaceae Source Nightshade genus 1,083
WoRMS Proseriata and Kalyptorhynchia: World database of Proseriata & Kalyptorhynchia Freeliving flatworms 1,009
WoRMS Echinoidea: World Echinoidea Database NEW! Sea urchins 1,008
AFD: Australian Faunal Directory (Pulmonata) Snails and slugs (some groups) 947
WoRMS Oligochaeta: World List of Marine Oligochaeta Earthworms, oligochaetes 900
Mites GSDs: TenuipalpidBase Tenuipalpid mites 887
TicksBase Ticks 867
ELPT: Early Land Plants Today - Uniting Taxonomy, Nomenclature & Geography (liverworts and hornworts) Hornworts and liverworts 824
Zygomycetes Pin moulds and related fungi 786
ChenoBase: World Species List of Chenopodiaceae NEW! Goosefoot family 769
Saccharomycetes Ascomycetous yeast forming fungi 745
Hexacorals: Hexacorallians of the World Sea anemones 738
Conifer Database Conifers 614
Strepsiptera Database: Global Strepsiptera Database NEW! Twisted-winged parasites 594
BdelloideaBase: Bdellid & Cunaxid Databases Bdellid and cunaxid mites 574
WoRMS Scaphopoda: World List of Scaphopoda NEW! Tusk shells 574
Rhytismatales Tar-spot fungi 507
Mites GSDs: OlogamasidBase Ologamasid mites 446
WoRMS Polycystina: World List of Polycystina NEW! polycystines (radiolarian protists) 417
EbenaBase: World Species List of Ebenaceae NEW! Ebony family 411
CIPA: Computer Aided Identification of Phlebotomine sandflies of Americas Phlebotomine sandflies 396
WoRMS Brachiopoda: World Brachiopoda Database Lamp-shells 386
RJB Geranium: Geranium Taxonomic Information System Cranesbills, geraniums 350
EmbiopteraSF: Embioptera Species File Webspinners 330
Trichomycetes Fungi associated with Arthropods 312
LecyPages: The Lecythidaceae Pages Brazil nut family 311
Xylariaceae: Home of the Xylariaceae Fungi associated with dead wood 308
Droseraceae Database Sundew family 182
Glomeromycota Glomeromycota 166
Mites GSDs: RhodacaridBase Rhodacarid mites 145
ETI WBD: World Biodiversity Database (Euphausiacea) Krill 86
WoRMS Leptostraca: World Leptostraca Database NEW! Leptostraca 50
FWCrabs: Neotropical Freshwater Crabs Catalogue Freshwater crabs 46
WoRMS Tantulocarida: World List of Tantulocarida Tantulocaridans 35
WoRMS Thermosbaenacea: World List of Thermosbaenacea Hot-springs shrimps 35
MBB: Moss Bug Base Moss bugs 32
LHD: Lacistemataceae Holistic Database Waits Numi plant family 28
WoRMS Remipedia: World Remipedia Database Remipedes 24
WoRMS Phoronida: World Phoronida Database Horseshoe worms 16
WoRMS Mystacocarida: World List of Mystacocarida Mystacocarids 13
WoRMS Brachypoda: World List of Brachypoda Brachypods 12
WoRMS Bochusacea: World List of Bochusacea 5
WoRMS Xenoturbellida Xenoturbellids 2
Species 2000 additional Common Names for the Catalogue of Life 0