Wikipedia:WikiProject Primates/Article format


 * This template for Primate articles is not yet agreed upon by WikiProject Primates. Further discussion here

The following are guidelines for what to include in articles on Primate taxa. These recommendations should not be taken as the only things to include, but as suggestions to help editors who may be unsure of what to improve in an undeveloped article. Other pertinent information not mentioned here is more than welcome!

If something seems to be neglected from this template that would be applicable to a large subset of Primate taxa, please suggest it at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Primates (many more editors monitor that page than this talk page). For further comments on this article format, see the "Meta-comments" section below.

Article names
In general, use the formal common name for article titles.


 * Common chimpanzee, not Pan troglodytes

Sometimes exceptions need to be made; some individual creatures (usually newly discovered ones) do not yet have a formal common name. Additionally, some distinct groups are known only by their scientific name.

Always redirect from the scientific name to the common name (or vice versa).

Common names

 * The name of a particular species is capitalized: common chimpanzee, white-headed lemur.
 * The name of a group of species is not capitalized: apes, ruffed lemurs.
 * Alternative names should be mentioned where appropriate; in boldface in the article lead if they are in wide use, elsewhere in the article (usually again with the boldfacing) if they are less-used. This is usually a matter for editorial consensus on an article-to-article basis.

Scientific names

 * Orders, families, and other taxa above genus level are written with an initial capital and are not italicized: gibbons belong to the family Hylobatidae; lemurs are members of the family Lemuridae and the suborder Strepsirrhini.
 * The names of genera are always italicised and capitalized: Pan, Aotus, Prolemur
 * Species (and subspecies) epithets are never capitalized, always italicized, and always preceded by either the genus name or a one-letter abbreviation of it: Homo ergaster or H. ergaster; Varecia variegata or V. variegata. The genus abbreviation is used only when the full genus name has been mentioned at least once earlier in the article, and the abbreviation is unambiguous in the context.

Taxobox
Primate taxa should use the Automatic taxobox or Speciesbox templates. The code shown below results in the output at left. More advanced usage of the template can be found at Automated taxobox system. There are many examples there to look at.

There are several sample primate taxoboxes, suitable for copying into new entries:
 * WikiProject Primates/family taxobox example
 * WikiProject Primates/family taxobox example with picture
 * WikiProject Primates/genus taxobox example
 * WikiProject Primates/genus taxobox example with picture
 * WikiProject Primates/species taxobox example
 * WikiProject Primates/species taxobox example with picture

Range maps


The basic template map is the world map without country borders that can be found at Blank maps. Maps with borders may also be helpful.

The blue colour represents where the species lives, and the grey is where it is absent.

The blue colour is  (see RGB color model) The grey colour is

If you edit a map, try to save at full-quality so that no blurring occurs at the edge of the countries—this blurring makes further editing of the map more difficult because the "fill" function of many image editing programs doesn't work with the blurred edges.

Article sections
You may copy and paste this basic template into a new article:

== Etymology ==

== Evolutionary history ==

=== Fossils ===

=== Taxonomic classification ===

==== Changes in taxonomy ====

== Anatomy and physiology ==

=== Sexual dimorphism ===

=== Locomotion ===

== Behavior ==

=== Social systems ===

=== Communication ===

=== Tool use ===

=== Diet ===

== Distribution and habitat ==

== Conservation status ==

== See also ==

== References ==

== External links ==

Etymology
Discuss the etymology behind the scientific name and common name of the subject.
 * For species and subspecies, discuss the full scientific name. The genus does not need to be discussed in as much detail as at that genus' article.
 * If a taxon has had its scientific name changed for some reason, discuss both the new name and the old name. Explain why the change was made.
 * If a taxon has more than one common name, discuss each.

Evolutionary history

 * Other possible headings: "Evolution"

Discuss the evolutionary history of the group. This should include when it split from other groups, and explanations for why this split occurred, as well as important events within this group. For example, under Ape, discuss the split between the great apes and gibbons.

Fossils

 * Other possible headings: "Fossil record"

If a fossil record exists (e.g. Chimpanzee), mention it here. This subsection does not apply for extinct taxa, for which fossils are the main evidence of its existence. The fossil information for these groups should still be kept under the section.

Taxonomic classification

 * Other possible headings: "Taxonomy", "Classification"

Mention the super-group and related groups under that super-group.

Discuss any sub-group(s).

Changes in taxonomy
If changes have been made to how a group is organized (e.g. Ape), then discuss these changes.

Anatomy and physiology

 * ''Other possible headings: "Physical description", "Physical characteristics"
 * "Physical appearance" and "Morphology" are discouraged as alternative headings, since these terms suggest the outward appearance of the animal, not the internal structures nor the physical function.

Discuss the physical structure (anatomy) and function (physiology) of the taxon.

Sexual dimorphism
If there is sexual dimorphism in the group, discuss it. On the other hand, the absence of sexual dimorphism may also be notable, if many related species show it.

Locomotion
Describe how the Primate moves, if it moves in a unique way (e.g. brachiation in gibbons).

Behavior

 * Other possible headings: "Ethology"


 * The order of these subsections should be partially based on their importance to the article in question (but they should also fit well together).

Social systems

 * Other possible headings: "Group life", "Social structure"

Communication

 * Other possible headings: "Language", "Speech"

Diet

 * Other possible headings: "Food and foraging"

Distribution and habitat

 * Other possible headings: "Ecology"

Discuss the countries or regions where the group is located. Describe any geographical features that define the boundaries of the group (such as a mountain range or river).

Describe the type of habitat where the group lives—rain forest, grassland, mountains, etc.

Conservation status
Mention the conservation status. The IUCN is the preferred source, but references from other organizations are also desired in addition to the IUCN.

Describe any existing threats to the species.

Categories
The following category tree is being used. Some of the nested categories are related but are not maintained by this WikiProject. Most should be self-explanatory. A few of the articles about prehistoric taxa are doubly linked because their taxonomic placement is significantly uncertain (Proconsul, for instance, maybe an ape, but it may not be). The cultural categories are also double-listed to allow viewers to either branch out and explore the scientific articles or easily stay within the categories of famous/fictional primates.

Although these categories were recently reorganized, more work is needed to properly restructure the prehistoric primates categories. Changes are forthcoming.

WikiProject Primates talk page banner
When you create or find a new Primate page, please add  to the top of the talk page. The WikiProject Primates template has several optional parameters:


 * The parameter  adds the article to categories based on its quality. Use ,  ,  ,  ,  , or  . See WikiProject Primates/Assessment for details on these ratings.
 * The parameter  adds the article to categories based on its importance. Use ,  ,  , or  . See WikiProject Primates/Assessment for details on these ratings.
 * If the page needs immediate attention, add
 * If the page would benefit from having a photograph but does not have one,
 * If the page would benefit from having an audio file but does not have one,
 * If the article is currently a candidate for project collaboration,
 * If the article was previously a project collaboration,
 * If the article is currently listed on the project's peer review department,
 * If the article was previously listed on the project's peer review department,
 * If the article is not currently supported by the Primates WikiProject,

Meta-comments
These comments are meant to address the following premise: The guidelines above are not hard-and-fast rules.

Please suggest improvements at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Primates (many more editors monitor that page than this talk page).

Unnecessary sections
Some sections or subsections listed under are not at all important for a particular group. These sections may be omitted.

Section ordering
Generally, the sections should always fall in the same order as listed above to maintain a standard convention across articles, but the order is not as important as at least having the sections somewhere in the article.

The order of the subsections within each section is not nearly as important. When placing subsections within a section, the importance of the subsection to the article should be considered, as well as how the subsections fit together. For example, a section on sex is of great importance to the bonobo, so it should be placed near the top of the "Behavior" section.

Sections with similar information
There may be no information to put in the "Evolutionary history" section for many groups. The section "Taxonomic classification" can then stand alone as its own section.

New, unique sections
If a taxon has information that cannot justifiably be categorized under the listed sections, a new section should be created and placed appropriately (e.g. Ape).

Subsections that are not included here are also expected to be included as needed, under the appropriate section (e.g. Orangutan).