This is really tiresome. On POWO, there are numerous synonyms that never have been valid names or that have long stopped to be relevant etc… They keep them on there because those obsolete names “are used for innumerable projects, including some historic ones where this is important”. However, this h…

This seems like a discussion which should be held on flags for each individual taxon. Most curators do not visit the forum.

How having synonyms on iNat affects anything though? They’re just there, maybe taking place, but really I see no harm in seeing old unused names, sometimes those are names used in local checklists, so people could likely know them and not a current valid name.

I actually think having the synonyms added to species (so long as it is done properly so that they function as obsolete synonyms) is very useful. Otherwise people who are using an old source or a different taxonomy and think they’ve found a species just add a new species with the obsolete name, and…

[image] marina_gorbunova: I see no harm in seeing old unused names I see no harm either and agree with @matthewvosper that they are useful. In addition to what’s already been said, the synonyms essentially have to be there so that duplicate taxons are not created (and that if they are, once t…

I’m going to close this topic. @spins if you have a specific concern, please flag the taxon on iNaturalist.

Note to curators: Ignore nonsensical synonyms on POWO

General

tiwane November 10, 2021, 9:21pm 3

Can you please add some examples of what you’re referring to, as suggested in the About the General category topic?

Topic		Replies	Views
Allow non-curators to add obsolete scientific names (synonyms) to the taxonomy Feature Requests web	30	2281	December 12, 2021
Scientific name changes General	7	823	April 25, 2021
Add references to scientific name synonyms Feature Requests	12	1548	November 11, 2020
Disagreement over correct species name - what is the best course of action here? General question	14	728	July 26, 2021
Can old synonyms still be used in modern literature? Nature Talk	12	1130	May 19, 2022

Note to curators: Ignore nonsensical synonyms on POWO

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