What makes a hydrozoan species record verifiable?

Keep evidence with the name

A species name is a conclusion, so a record should preserve the observations that led to it. Include diagnostic images that show the features used by the reference, not only an attractive overview. For a colony, this might mean one frame for the overall branching pattern and closer views of structures used in identification. For a medusa, include the bell and relevant tentacle arrangement if visible. If the key feature is hidden or blurred, the species claim may need to remain provisional.

Keep the original image files, note any crops or edits, and link every file to the observation. A scale in frame can help with comparisons, though scale does not replace diagnostic detail.

Document place and time

Record date, location, depth or shore position, and observed substrate or context. These details allow a reviewer to assess whether the record is plausible for the stated setting and to distinguish repeated observations. Use coordinate precision appropriate to the project and avoid publishing sensitive locations when site guidance calls for care. State how depth or position was determined if uncertainty matters.

Include collection or observation conditions that affect the specimen: alive or detached, preserved or photographed in place, and any visible damage. A record from a damaged specimen may still be useful, but readers need to know which characters could not be assessed.

Cite a taxonomic reference

Name the guide, revision, paper, or other taxonomic source used, and identify the entry or diagnostic passage where possible. Record the scientific name as the reference gives it, including authorship or date when the source provides those details and the project needs them. If authorities differ, document the choice rather than silently merging names. A common name alone is usually not enough to let another observer reconstruct the identification.

A concise record might say: “Identified as genus and species using the cited regional key, couplet 8; diagnostic structure visible in image 003; confidence high, pending specialist review.” The wording makes the basis and status clear without overstating certainty.

Make revision possible

Keep observation separate from determination. If later review changes the name, retain the original assessment, add the reviewer’s conclusion, and document the reason. This history helps future users understand how the record developed. A verifiable record is not one that can never be corrected; it is one that keeps enough evidence and references for correction to be informed and transparent.