Understanding and Enhancing Wikipedia Animal Species Stubs

When browsing through the variety of animal species on Wikipedia, many users might notice the presence of stub articles. But what exactly do these stubs mean, and how can we, as contributors, take action to improve them? Let's delve into the details of Wikipedia stubs, the importance of Wikidata, and the role of taxonomic databases such as Wikispecies.

What Are Wikipedia Stubs?

A stub in the context of Wikipedia refers to a short, incomplete article that lacks significant detail, credible citations, or comprehensive coverage of a topic. Stubs often appear when a new editor, like myself, creates an article without sufficient research or when the topic is simply not covered in depth by other contributors.

The Common Issues with Stubs

The most common inadequacies of stubs are:

Insufficient citations or poor-quality citations, leading to lack of reliability and credibility Inadequate linking to and from other articles, hampering the ease of navigation and related information retrieval Lack of thoroughness in the content, which leaves room for improvement

These shortcomings are flagged by the stub label, encouraging editors to take action. The most obvious steps include improving the text, citations, and links, merging the stub into a related article, or even deleting it if appropriate.

Personal Experiences with Stubs

During my early days as a Wikipedia editor, I contributed to countless stubs without realizing the importance of comprehensive articles. Over time, I learned from more experienced editors, resulting in the merging or deletion of many of my initial contributions. For instance, several of the articles I created were later merged into related ones, while a few were outright deleted.

The Role of Wikidata and Wikispecies

While Wikipedia is invaluable for general knowledge, other projects like Wikidata and Wikispecies serve as powerful tools for more detailed and structured content. Wikidata focuses on structured data, while Wikispecies specializes in taxonomic information.

Wikidata: Structured Data for Editors and Researchers

Wikidata is particularly useful for editors and researchers who require structured data. I have personally created many items for entities that may not warrant full articles but are still valuable for future reference. For example, I have created items for buildings and added pictures to specific buildings in a new complex, enhancing the structure and detail of related information.

Guiding New Editors and Creating Personal Wikidata Items

More recently, I have guided new editors on creating Wikidata items, such as items about themselves. This allows individuals to contribute to structured data directly related to them. Additionally, creating personal Wikidata items can serve as a reference for others, unlike Wikipedia articles which may or may not be created.

Role of Wikispecies in Taxonomic Information

Wikispecies, a taxonomic wiki, is an older and more specialized platform compared to Wikidata. It documents more than half a million taxa, primarily species, which is a smaller but more specialized dataset compared to the millions of articles on Wikipedia and the hundreds of millions of items on Wikidata. Wikispecies excels in providing in-depth information about each species, potentially serving as a source for bot-generated articles.

The Future of Information Compilation

While some languages rely heavily on bots for creating articles, most large encyclopedias, including English, French, German, and Spanish, do not follow this practice. The lack of comprehensive articles for less famous species on Wikipedia highlights the importance of specialized platforms like Wikispecies. For example, while Tyrannosaurus rex has detailed entries in both Wikidata and Wikispecies, the lesser-known T. mcraeensis exists in both databases but has no corresponding Wikipedia article, suggesting the value of these specialized resources.

Conclusion

Wikipedia stubs are a reminder of the ongoing need for knowledge enrichment. By contributing to Wikidata and Wikispecies, we can enhance the comprehensive nature of information available. Whether you're a casual reader or a dedicated researcher, understanding the role of these platforms can help you navigate and contribute to the vast wealth of knowledge they offer.