Diptera.info

Thread subject: Diptera.info :: What does cf. mean in a taxon?

Posted by pierred on 15-04-2006 10:22

Hello,

While browsing the gallery, I saw Gerard Pennards's Anthomia pluvialis pictures. The taxon is written "Anthomia cf. pluvialis". What does this "cf." exactly mean? Probably? Rather quite sure but not 100%?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Posted by Date on 15-04-2006 21:51

Hi,

Cf. stands for Confer or conferatur. English translation would be something like "to be compared with". It means that the speciesname could not be found, but that it must be very similar to (or maybe even is), in this case, pluvialis. There are many species in this genus that are all very similar. Without microscopic investigation it is not possible to identify a single specimen.

Cheers,

Date

Posted by pierred on 16-04-2006 06:24

Hello,

Thanks for your answer.

I knew the meaning of cf. in general. I was just questionning the use of cf. in a taxon.

Posted by crex on 08-06-2006 11:59

Ah, found out about cf. ... Perhaps this explanation could be included in the glossary?

Posted by Paul Beuk on 08-06-2006 12:03

It was submitted for the Glossary but not yet included. See: cf. header=[cf.] body=[Latin, compare (with); for example, in respect of a determination: Anthomyia cf. pluvialis means that whilst the specimen compares well with pluvialis the determiner is not quite sure and suggests implicitely to compare it with a specimen with undisputed identification.<br /><img src='infusions//terms/images/no_image.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

header=[cf.] body=[Latin, compare (with); for example, in respect of a determination: Anthomyia cf. pluvialis means that whilst the specimen compares well with pluvialis the determiner is not quite sure and suggests implicitely to compare it with a specimen with undisputed identification.<br /><img src='infusions//terms/images/no_image.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]