Wikipedia:WikiProject Fishes/Categories

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Adding articles to the appropriate categories[edit]

Species articles[edit]

When creating an article for a fish species, add it to the most appropriate category in each of the following groups:

1. Geographic region

There are categories for broad regions, such as the continent where the fish's native habitat is located. If a species is found in multiple regions, such as Central and South America, add it to both Category:Fish of Central America and Category:Fish of South America. If a species is native to Southeast Asia and has become established in South America as an introduced species, do not add it to the South America category as well.

2. Animals by country

If known, add the article to each of the nation categories where the fish is native if such a category exists.

3. Taxonomy categories

Add the article to the one most specific taxonomy category. For example, a species of Corydoras would be added to Category:Callichthyidae only, but not to Category:Armored catfish, Category:Siluriformes, or Category:Ray-finned fish even though the species is also a member of each of those groups.

Note: There are also categories such as Category:Deep sea fish.

Higher taxa articles[edit]

When creating an article for higher fish taxa (genus or above), add it to the most appropriate category in each of the following groups:

1. Geographic region

Add higher taxa to a geographic region category only if all species in that taxa are natively found within one geographic region. If you are describing a genus where most of the species are found in South America, but even one species of that genus is found in Central America, do not add it to either category.

2. Animals by country

Use the same guidelines for animals by country as are described for region. If every member of a genus is found within one country, add that genus to the appropriate country category if it exists. If it is found in two or more countries, do not add it to any country categories.

3. Taxonomy categories

Add the article to only one taxonomy category. The category should be the category with the narrowest focus that applies to your article. For example, if you are creating an article describing the genus Barus in the Baridae family of the Bariformes order, look to see if there is a Category:Barus. If not, it should be added to Category:Baridae. If there is no such category, it should be added to Category:Bariformes. If there is a Category:Baridae, it should not also be added to Category:Bariformes.
For example, the article about the order Siluriformes should have the category Category:Siluriformes added to it, but not Category:Ray-finned fish because Category:Siluriformes is already a subcategory of Category:Ray-finned fish. It should not be added to a subcategory of Category:Siluriformes, such as Category:Armored catfish, for example, because even though all armored catfishes are Siluformes, not all Siluformes are armored catfishes.

How to add an article to a category[edit]

To add an article to a category, use [[Category:Category name]] at the bottom of the main article page.

Lists[edit]

List of fish common names
List of fish families
List of freshwater aquarium fish species
List of marine aquarium fish species

Category:Lists of animals might also contain relevant information - such as lists of extinct or endangered species.

Miscellaneous[edit]

The main category Category:Fish should be used very sparingly.

Icthyology categories[edit]

Whilst most fish related articles might seem to belong in this category it is used mainly for fish anatomy and behaviour related articles.

Ichthyology terms is a list

Fish that have relevance to mankind[edit]

If the species/genera is used by man then please use the relevant category:

List of freshwater aquarium fish species
List of marine aquarium fish species

Taxonomy categories[edit]