An updated checklist of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata)
Objectives:
This work aims to create and maintain an updated checklist of the family Syringophilidae quill mites. This checklist provides information on their taxonomy, avian host species, geographical distribution, and literature references. The main drive for the continuation of this project is to provide a centralised data hub for researchers, academicians, and amateur and professional enthusiasts, enabling informed scientific discourse and collaborative investigation. Easily accessible information may assist in framing study results and writing research paper manuscripts.
Methods:
The checklist is curated and successively compiled through a review of newly published literature trying to reach the primary references. The data is presented in structured, related spreadsheets combined into one file and periodically updated to reflect the latest discoveries and taxonomic revisions and add new functionality features.
Data repository:
The checklist is published on figshare.com as its current official source, an open-access digital repository, ensuring unrestricted access to the scientific community and the broader public. The data is available for download as a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Workbook file (.xlsx), with an additional option, an Open Document Spreadsheet (.ods) file to promote Free and Open Source Software.
Accessibility:
The checklist will undergo annual updates to encapsulate new findings and taxonomic adjustments. Although previous versions of this checklist were hosted at https://sites.google.com/site/syringophilidae/, this website has been deprecated, and no further updates will be published there. The move to figshare.com heralds a commitment to enhance accessibility and ensure the data remains long-standing and up-to-date, fostering broader knowledge regarding the Syringophilidae family.
Recent changes:
The latest edition of the checklist incorporates new taxa, applies over a dozen corrections, and updates the Latin names of bird host species and their systematic classification in line with recent updates (October 2022) to the Clements Checklists of birds. Additionally, a novel spreadsheet delineating the classification of syringophilids has been introduced, enriching the breadth and depth of information available within this repository.
Future challenges:
Future enhancements will include integrating references linked to each record, expanding file type availability (for example, an HTML file(s) as an additional backup of gathered information), and better formatting for various analytic tools.
