What is a "placeholder" ID and what good is it?

[Chuck Sexton]

A couple of times recently, I've added observations of species for which the ID is certain but which aren't in the iNat database.  For example, see:

http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1873843

In this case, I accepted "Cecharismena jalapena" as a "placeholder" for the ID, but it was displayed in My Observations with the ID only at the family level ("Erebidae").  I eventually changed it to just the genus so that the ID will *appear* a little closer to reality.

Q1: What is the "placeholder" designation for and why is it there?

Q2: What is the proper (formal) way to get a species added to the iNat database?  I.e., Does use of the "placeholder" name (as above) alert someone to add the species or do I have to make a separate request or notification to someone?

Q3: In the interim, when an observation of a new (for iNat) species is awaiting formal inclusion into the iNat database, what is displayed to other iNaturalists?  Should my "placeholder" name show up or does iNat default to some higher taxon automatically?

Thanks.

[bouteloua]

I added several Cecharismena spp. including C. jalapena, so you should now be able to ID your obseravation to species level.

To answer part of your question (I'm not sure what "placeholder" is referring to), here's the info from the iNat help page regarding additions to the species database: http://www.inaturalist.org/pages/help#names

1. Why doesn't iNaturalist recognize the name I've entered?

   iNaturalist has name information for many different kinds of organisms, and continues to add new species names to our database. If we do not recognize a particular name, click the "Search external name providers" link that appears after you search for a name and get no results. You can also try alternative names that we might recognize (common names, old scientific names). If that doesn't work, add the original name to the tags or description, contact one of the site curators, and ask them to add the name. Make sure you include the name you want added as well as some links establishing the legitimacy of the name, like links to websites or books that use it.

[James Bailey]

From my understanding a placeholder is just that...it is equivalent to the "something" field in that it represents no taxa.

[bouteloua]

Ah, ok. When you type in the species name and it's not "linked" to the database ("placeholder" text), no, no one is alerted that this has occurred.

[bouteloua]

Sorry - unless they "follow" you, have otherwise subscribed to the location where the observation occurred, etc.

[James Bailey]

If a species is not on iNaturalist and you have confirmed it can't be found through the "search external providers" then you can contact any curator and they will add the species for you or show you to the currently recognized name.

No need to have unapplicable species names floating around for eternity.

[James Bailey]

PS -- no, no one is notified, the only "correct" process is asking a curator to do it, or being a curator yourself.