Free DELTA: An open source system for processing taxonomic descriptions

Abstract

The DELTA (DEscription Language for TAxonomy) system consists in a flexible format for coding taxonomic descriptions and a set of programs to handling and organizing taxonomic information, as construction of dichotomous keys, production of natural language descriptions, and interactive identification. However, the original DELTA system was based on a proprietary software model, that puts limits to the use and expansion of the system. The Free DELTA Project is a free, open-source, software alternative for a generic system to the processing of taxonomic descriptions, which offers an accessible tool to support systematic biodiversity inventories.