In this 2022-11-23 edition of the GBIF Backbone we have updated various sources but also had small changes to configurations and the name matching software.
The Catalogue of Life (COL) Annual Checklist 2022 has been used as the basis and for most of the hierarchy. New sources added in this version:
As always Plazi has been adding many new publications containing new species descriptions.
The Backbone follows Catalogue of Life that have adopted a new Vertebrate classification that removes common taxa like Reptilia & Actinopterygii and raises former orders Squamata, Testudines and Crocodylia to class level.
We have improved matching to higher taxa in case there are multiple equal matches, utilising the classification of the equal matches, not just that of the query. See checklistbank#250 for more details.
The Virus classification in the Catalogue of Life has changed drastically, now following strictly the ICTV source with 10 kingdoms and several realms. As GBIF still works with a single Virus kingdom this caused problems and resulted in most of the virus names being placed under the Incertae sedis kingdom.