The concept and principles of Killi-Data stem in 1979 along the project of CLOFFA, co-edited by Prof. Jacques Daget, then ichthyological director of the Paris MNHN, with two other European INSTITUTIONS, London BMNH and Tervuren MRAC. CLOFFA, the CheckList Of Fresh Water Fishes of Africa, has been a major publication, that featured each valid freshwater fish taxon of Africa with its type locality, type series, synonyms and used names, linked with bibliographic references. The Cyprinodonts, included in volume III published in 1983, was co-authored by Rudolph H. Wildekamp (Gemert, Holland), Raymond Romand (Clermond-Ferrand, France) and Joergen J. Scheel (Copenhagen, Danmark and Saint Paul de Vence, France), and the present author was requested to act as an advisor to MNHN.
The ancestor of Killi-Data is the "Updated List of Cyprinodontidae species", a booklet of 48 pages published in 1983, at the same time as CLOFFA III, by Jean H. Huber, the present author, Lothar Seegers (Dinslaken, Germany) and Rudolph H. Wildekamp. The ULC contained two basic lists of names: a "valid list" of those names felt valid, with aquarium populations, breeding characteristics and maximum size; a "general list" with all names and their validity status. These two basic lists, together with a foreword in three languages (French, English and German) explaining the systematic choices, were felt to cover the minimum required for a day-to-day reference. All African information were duplicated from CLOFFA, except some recent taxonomic changes in Aplocheilichthyins. A second edition (in 1986) and a third edition (in 1989) have been circulated to incorporate corrections, updatings and minor improvements.
The main constraint with the ULC was purely technical: complicated and rigid programs have had to be written to build the two simple lists. Only, the emergence of new technologies (PC's and spreadsheets as Lotus123, then Excel, with their simple macro-instructions) have allowed to rethink the project to develop Killi-Data. Unfortunately, the two other co-authors, the former deeply involved in his huge project "A World of Killies" and the latter working at his Doctorate thesis on "Lake Rukwa Fishes", declined to participate.
More explanations on recent taxonomic shifts. Rediscovery of an annual species thought to be extinct and incentive for a conservation program of a threatened non-annual species.
Financial accounts of Killi-data, Rivulus and "Comparison" books, with a donation to Paris MNHN.
Announcement of the first decision of the Board of Advisors of Killi-Data online, with its detailed reasons.
Full genome of Rivulus marmoratus. Obituary: Professor Robert Rush Miller.
Announcements of MAPS in the data base, of POCKET Killi-Data 2004, of CD-roms designed by Aquarists, of a new scientific checklist CLOFFSCA on neotropical Cyprinodonts.
Proposal of a new platform of cooperation among researchers and between researchers and aquarists
Announcement of the availability of Google automatic translator over the whole "Guest" section, of a new powerful Search Engine and of the possibility to pay fees, electronically, with "Pay Pal".
The 33 systematic challenges in Killifish research and the development of comparative diagnoses for all Killifish.
Ernst Mayr obituary, key issues to date, petition amateurs-professionals
Analysis of the systematics and nomenclatural status of Killifish, and their outcome following Ernst Mayr's death.
The issues and stakes in front of the Killifish community. The petition for "still freedom" and an action plan to comply more with ICZN code.
