A computer system for identifying Tanganyikan cichlids

[michi tobler]

Hi all, thought this might be interesting for some of you...

Cheers, m


Title:
A computer system for identifying Tanganyikan cichlids using meristic and descriptive data accumulated in the literature

Authors:
Takahashi, T; Ohtsuka, T; Matsuura, K

Source:
ICHTHYOLOGICAL RESEARCH, 54 (4): 399-403; NOV 26 2007

Abstract:
The Identification System for Tanganyikan Cichlids (ISTC) is a computer system that identifies the species of Tanganyikan cichlids based on five meristic and three descriptive characters. An index I-i is proposed as the degree of proximity between an unidentified specimen and species i. For calculating this index, the system allows the use of the following: (i) the range data including the largest and smallest values of meristic characters; and (ii) the meristics, between which the correlations are unknown. Therefore, a large amount of data accumulated in literature can be used. This system is sufficiently practical, although the methods are simplified and mathematically coarse.

[Colby Dixon]

Is this a written coded program, or a paper about it in theory?