When merging junior synonyms into an existing taxon, is it necessary to create a new taxon concept for the existing taxon? When I try to save a draft taxon merge merging Monomorium binatu, Monomorium exchao, and Monomorium termitobium into Monomorium termitobium I get an error message saying I need…

I don’t know the specifics of this case but looks like you would not include M. termitobium as one of the inputs.

I’m not sure what you mean here?

If you want to merge taxa A and B into C then you cannot have C as both an input and an output. You currently have A, B, C as inputs and then C as the output. C being on both sides as an input and output is triggering the error. You can also think of it this way, if you have your two junior synon…

I get that, the part I am now wondering is whether I need to create a new taxon concept for C if C existed prior to the merge I want to do

It depends on the framework for the group. I’d draft the swap and then tag people on the flag.

this is not covered by a taxon framework

I don’t think you have to mess with a framework if there’s no external authority. Am I correct @bouteloua ?

it’s not possible to create taxon framework relationships when there is no taxon framework. Sources should be documented on the taxon itself and the taxon change.

No. The inputs should be Monomorium binatu and Monomorium exchao, and the output should be the existing Monomorium termitobium taxon. The description of what a merge does on the taxonomic change page (“Several old taxa lumped into one new taxon”) is misleading.

Taxon merge questions

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