Talk:Tarsal formula
 | This article contains a translation of Tarsal formula from en.wikipedia. |
February 2016[change source]
I was wondering what was meant by The formula has 3 numbers a-b-c. This makes little sense. Could I have someone have a look at it, for a second opinion. Maybe I'm reading it wrong. :) --Yottie =talk= 17:27, 29 February 2016 (UTC)
- Insects have six legs, three on each side... The formula is of the lowest part of the leg, the tarsus, which is what the page relates to. The formula is used in the page leaf beetle. Insect taxonomy is a world of its own... Macdonald-ross (talk) 17:49, 29 February 2016 (UTC)
- Ah, I see. Thank you for the clarification. The main concern I had was the fact a-b-c aren't numbers. Would it be possible to change that? --Yottie =talk= 17:54, 29 February 2016 (UTC)
- The numbers are the number of segments in the tarsus of each leg, taken from the front legs to the back legs. a-b-c is the order of legs taken from the front. It's just a formula for one character ("tarsal formula") which is part of the taxonomic description of the group. There are many potential characters (traits) of which this is one. Macdonald-ross (talk) 18:22, 29 February 2016 (UTC)
- Ah, I see. Thank you for the clarification. The main concern I had was the fact a-b-c aren't numbers. Would it be possible to change that? --Yottie =talk= 17:54, 29 February 2016 (UTC)