LifeWatch-WoRMS Fossil Workshop 2014

During this workshop the WoRMS Data Management Team and taxonomic editors discussed the amount of fossil taxa to be added, existing sources for fossil information (both online and offline), possible grounds for collaboration and improvements and additions to the entry of fossil range data into Aphia. Within WoRMS, there are currently 19 phyla which contain one or more fossil species. The editors of three phyla – Foraminifera, Mollusca and Echinodermata – are very actively working on the fossil species within their groups, and representatives of these groups were either present at the workshop in Málaga or have provided extensive input and feedback. These three groups are currently the test cases for capturing information on fossil ranges in WoRMS.