Disclaimer of potentially sensitive content and limitation of liability

Following Mosyakin (2023, quoted text from him), we “understand and respectfully acknowledge that some vulnerable or emotionally sensitive people or groups of people consider some names of organisms….as ‘offensive and/or inappropriate’”, and we largely adopt his suggestion of providing this disclaimer and statement of limitation of liability. The names used for avian diversity, scientific and vernacular, were coined, applied, and modified over centuries “by many authors of various national, ethnic, cultural, religious, political, historical, and other backgrounds, identities, origins, and traditions. Such names reflect the rich but also complicated and sometimes controversial history of scientific explorations and biological nomenclature.”

Anyone using the names of avian taxa presented by the American Ornithologists Union should understand that these lists are “not intended for judging, evaluating, changing, rejecting, or censoring such names because of ethical, cultural, religious, political, social, ideological, and/or other principles, criteria, and procedures.”

Authors and editors of the lists of avian diversity presented by the American Ornithologists Union “in good faith and for lawful purposes shall not be held responsible for any discomfort, inconvenience, offense, mental and/or emotional distress, or other possible negative consequences potentially caused by some…names of taxa to any person or group of people who may consider such name objectionable, offensive, or inappropriate.”

Literature Cited

Mosyakin, S. L. 2023. (195) Proposal to amend the Preamble by adding a “potentially sensitive content disclaimer and limitation of liability”. Taxon 72(2)442-443.