Talk:Veratalpa/GA1

GA Review
The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.''

Reviewer: Casliber (talk · contribs) 10:50, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

Intriguing article - from reading I am not sure, are all the six species from the one locality of Vieux Collonges? Is there any information at all about the fossil bed(s)?
 * Vieux-Collonges is a very rich fissure filling site that has yielded thousands of fossils, including all of Ameghino's "moles". Do you think we need more information on it in this article? I think we cover it reasonably already. Ucucha 11:39, 23 August 2010 (UTC)
 * The above isn't mentioned in it at all - I think adding " very rich fissure filling site that has yielded thousands of fossils" or words to that effect would be a good addition. Currently the article has nothing but the name and the fact some molelike fossil bits were found in it. Casliber (talk · contribs) 12:32, 23 August 2010 (UTC)
 * I added something. Ucucha 12:42, 23 August 2010 (UTC)
 * Much better. Casliber (talk · contribs) 12:54, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

I can supply a Latin translation a bit later -I think it is vera "old" and Talpa "mole" - will double check when I can get my dictionary (I'll make sure I get page numbers).
 * It actually means "true mole"—ironic, isn't it? ("Old" is vetus; verus means "true".) But I don't think we should be giving the etymology when no source gives it; for all we know, Ameghino could have really liked a girl named Vera. Ucucha 11:39, 23 August 2010 (UTC)
 * Duh, I realised that when I just looked it up - pages 593 and 638 of my Cassell's Latin Dictionary. - I am pretty sure he meant "true mole", well, the Talpa is 100% clear anyway. Casliber (talk · contribs) 12:32, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

A sentence about the age (i.e. earliest fossil record of) Talpidae would be good for some context.
 * I'm not sure—it's probably not a mole, after all. Ucucha 11:39, 23 August 2010 (UTC)
 * Good point. Incidentally, if it isn't a mole, has anyone speculated on what else it might be? astragalus is a cool bone, someone found an Allosauroid one near Melbourne - the first evidence of a big dino predator in Australia....Casliber (talk · contribs) 12:32, 23 August 2010 (UTC)
 * Rodent, according to Hutchison, but nothing more specific has been suggested as far as I know. It doesn't look much like a rice rat humerus, at least. Ucucha 12:42, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

1. Well written?:
 * Prose quality:
 * Manual of Style compliance:

2. Factually accurate and verifiable?:
 * References to sources:
 * Citations to reliable sources, where required:
 * No original research:

3. Broad in coverage?:
 * Major aspects:
 * Focused:

4. Reflects a neutral point of view?:
 * Fair representation without bias:

5. Reasonably stable?
 * No edit wars, etc. (Vandalism does not count against GA):

6. Illustrated by images, when possible and appropriate?:
 * Images are copyright tagged, and non-free images have fair use rationales:
 * Images are provided where possible and appropriate, with suitable captions:

Overall:
 * Pass or Fail:  - sorry, got sidetracked IRL last night. Casliber (talk · contribs) 20:44, 23 August 2010 (UTC)