A description gives one or more character states of one or more characters for a taxon. Taxa below are species.

A diagnosis compares a new taxon (here, a species) with a known one (i.e., one that has been previously described or diagnosed.

Names used below Species names below that are links are the current names. Names that are not links are those that were given when the species were originally named/described. Following each unlinked name is a reference/link to the current name.

Thank you to Tom Hayward, lecturer emeritus in Classical and Medieval Studies at Bates College (Lewiston, Maine), for his help when I find myself struggling with a translation. In the end, however, I accept responsibility for any errors in this glossary or in the associated translations unless I can find some way to blame them on Tom (or on anyone else). Comments and corrections are welcome and should be sent to info@vfthomas.com. Thanks.