User:Tombstone/Mammal templates/doc

Documentation

[edit] Usage

Content: The templates in this series contain only extant species; subspecies and extinct species are not included.
Goal: To link every extant mammal species via a template, and each species can be reached by starting at the top template {{Mammals}}.

• This template is used in conjunction with the other mammal species templates listed below. Please do not change the basic format of an individual template without discussion at Wikipedia Talk:WikiProject Mammals so a consensus can be reached to update the formating of all of the templates in the series. Formatting should remain consistent across all of the mammal templates.
• Corrections, additions and/or removal of a species is welcome. Please remember to update all of the corresponding articles accordingly. Use MSW3 as a general guideline.
• If an article is moved to a different name (preferably its common name per MSW3), the redirect should be fixed on the accompanying template (see "Best practices" for formatting a template link).

[edit] Best practices

The visible name (name appearing after the pipe) should be the same as the exact title of the article (name appearing before the pipe):

• Capitalization: Currently, there is no consensus regarding the capitalization of a mammal species article. The only agreed-upon guideline seems to be to not change the capitalization usage on an existing article. When listing the article on the template, please list the capitalization exactly as the article is titled, even if the other species on the template are capitalized differently.

[edit] Format

Most templates utilize {{Navigation with collapsible groups}} while some of the smaller Orders utilize {{Navbox}}. Many incorporate {{Navbox generic subgroup}} into the template.

• Taxonomic rank:
  • The main title bar represents the name of the order.
  • The secondary title bar (on most templates) usually represents a suborder or family, and is labeled as such.
  • The vertical groupings are usually a family or subfamily, but are not labeled.
  • The genus is easily recognized as it is always in italics.
  • Tribes are generally not included in the template due to space constraints, unless it is significant to the classification.
  • The subgenus or subgroup is included in the list of species (not in its own group parameter) underlined and italicized, ex.: Subgenus Dolichohippus: (<u>Subgenus ''Dolichohippus''</u>:).

[edit] Mammal species template series

Each template attempts to represents all known extant species in that particular Order (per MSW3), as grouped below by infraclass.