How to read The Mayflies of North America:
In the species list you will find below, all valid species names
are listed in alphabetical order along the left margin, first by
family, then by genus under each family, then by species under each genus, and
if subspecies are recognized then by subspecies under the species. Other names
by which the valid species have also been known are also listed by genus and
species under the valid name to which they apply. The subordinate name
equivalents appear in indented lists. All names, valid
or subordinate, are followed by the actual author of that name and the date
that name was published. Such precise documentation allows users to search any
name ever used in published form for any North American mayfly species,
including homonyms (the same names used for different species), and thus
determine both current and historical usage. Codes and abbreviations incorporated
into the list are explained under Geographic Coverage and
Abbreviations Defined.
Geographic coverage:
Broad geographic regions in which the species have been observed, based on
published records, are indicated by two-letter codes in brackets following
the valid species names. These codes and their areas are indicated on the
accompanying map of North America: FN=far north (above the 60th
parallel); FS=far south (below the Tropic of Cancer); NE=northeast;
NW=northwest; SE=southeast; SW=southwest. See
Species List for usage examples. In addition actual
countries of distribution are also given: CAN=Canada; MEX=Mexico; and
USA=United States. As an example, USA:FN indicates an Alaskan distribution whereas
MEX:SW indicates a northern Mexican distribution. Only FS and SE are unique to one
country (FS to Mexico, SE to the United States).
Abbreviations defined:
All subordinate species name equivalents are
followed by some parenthetical indicator of the basis for their subordination.
In addition, for those few species that are of dubious status (unable to be
refuted or substantiated at this time), the species name is followed by (dub.),
see below. Abbreviations used in parentheses accompanying names are defined as
follows:
- (comb.)
- combination: a name recombined with a generic name different
from the original;
- (dub.)
- nomen dubium: a name that is of dubious status in that
it cannot presently be determined what the species named as such
actually is; although all nomina dubia have a generic name associated
with them, keep in mind that some of them cannot actually be placed
to any genus with confidence due to the lack, or loss, of original
material on which the names were based;
- (hom.)
- homonym: the name (as the unique combination of genus and
species names) is or becomes the same as one used for another
species at an earlier time; the subordinate homonym, therefore,
had to be replaced with a new name, see (renam.), below; the
species name that has priority is also indicated within the
parentheses along with (hom.);
- (id.)
- misidentification: another valid species (not a subordinate name)
with which the species has incorrectly been associated in the past; although
historical misidentifiactions are not generally cited in the Species List, in
the one instance where a North American species has traditionally been cited by
the name of another valid species now known not to occur in North America, the
misidentification is noted so that the species may be tracked;
- (orig.)
- original: the original name, including the original name
in its correct form if it has been changed from an incorrectly formed name;
- (renam.)
- renamed: a new name given because the original or recombination of the
original is a secondary homonym (the same as that which has been given
to another species previously); in one instance, the new name was unnecessary
and is indicated as (invalid renam.);
- (spell.)
- spelling: a misspelled or incorrect form of the name;
- (stat.)
- status: represents a change from species to subspecies status within
the same species;
- (syn.)
- synonym: another name that was proposed independently for the same species.
Normally, the earliest published name takes priority.
See Species List for usage examples.

Higher Classification of The Mayflies of North
America
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