- The following is an archived discussion of a
featured article nomination. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the article's talk page or in
Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates. No further edits should be made to this page.
The article was promoted by
Ian Rose 10:02, 30 July 2013 (UTC)
[1].
reply
Koala (
|
talk |
history |
protect |
delete |
links |
watch |
logs |
views)
- Nominator(s):
LittleJerry (
talk) 19:46, 26 June 2013 (UTC),
Sasata
reply
Submitted for your approval, one of the most iconic animals of Australia. I started working on this article months ago and Sasata was nice enough to jump on board and improve its comprehensiveness, sourcing and prose. We now feel it is ready.
LittleJerry (
talk) 19:46, 26 June 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Note: This is a
WikiCup nomination. The following nominators are WikiCup participants:
Sasata. To the nominator: if you do not intend to submit this article at the WikiCup, feel free to remove this notice.
UcuchaBot (
talk) 00:01, 27 June 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Images So far I've only looked at the images. They are all free licenses and on Commons. I did some minor fixing on two of them on Commons. I have no issues with the images. Will look over the rest later but first impression is very good.
PumpkinSky
talk 12:01, 30 June 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Support now
PumpkinSky
talk 17:54, 5 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
Nice to see such an important article here.
- "the continent's eastern and southern regions" - The country, or the island. Not the continent, surely?
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 01:31, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "It is possible that these variations are separate subspecies" It's the populations that are possibly subspecies, not the variations. The variations are the differences in colour.
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 01:31, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "Further details about the animal's biology were revealed in the 1800s by several English scientists who investigated various aspects of its biology." Repetition
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 01:31, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- No mention of the relationship between native Australians and Koalas in the lead gives off an ever-so-slight colonial feel.
- Added.
LittleJerry (
talk) 01:31, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "The koala's genus name" Generic name or possibly genus's name? We wouldn't say "species name", I don't think
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 01:31, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "Phascolarctos cinereus may have emerged as a dwarf form of P. stirtoni known as the giant koala." The dwarf form wasn't known as the giant koala, surely?
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 01:31, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 01:36, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "in other tree genera" They can't- they can be found in/on trees of other genera.
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 01:31, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "In general, however, koalas tend to avoid energy wasting aggressive behaviour." Energy-wasting?
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 01:31, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "Males begin to produce sperm, but they have limited reproductive success until they are large enough to stand against a mature rival.[82]" When? When they're sexually mature? If so, when do they stop growing?
- Fixed. Things got mixed up.
LittleJerry (
talk) 01:43, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- I'm not sure I'm keen on the in-text external link.
- Me neither, removed.
Sasata (
talk) 02:47, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Is there perhaps potential for a section on the use of koalas for food? It's mentioned a few times that Aboriginal groups utilised them- is this still going on? Are they hunted?
- The lack of a distribution section is also a bit of a surprise
Already in "Behaviour and ecology" section.
LittleJerry (
talk) 01:31, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 23:12, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "the animals can survive in urban areas provided there are enough trees, though urban koalas are vulnerable to collisions with vehicles and attacks by domestic dogs;[150] about 4000 koalas are killed this way every year." By dogs, or by dogs and vehicles combined?
- Combined; now clarified.
Sasata (
talk) 02:29, 2 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
Thoroughly engaging read, definitely a worthy topic for FA status. I've no doubt that this is close.
J Milburn (
talk) 22:48, 1 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
Almost full support (as long as source/image checks come back OK); I still wonder if there's potential for a more explicit mention of their exploitation as a food source by humans. It's alluded to a couple of times, but never properly addressed. If a tweak to the article (even a line or two) is made or an explanation as to why that's not possible/ideal is forthcoming, I'll happily switch to a full support. Other than that, the article seems comprehensive and well-sourced, and it's definitely engagingly written.
J Milburn (
talk) 13:03, 3 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Thank you.
Sasata is getting to your concern.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:44, 3 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Thanks from me too! I've added a short paragraph about Aboriginal hunting
here; does this address your concerns?
Sasata (
talk) 17:33, 3 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Great stuff!
J Milburn (
talk) 18:42, 3 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
Comments from Cwmhiraeth - a good read. Here are a few points my over-pernickety eye picked out:
- Now supporting this candidacy
Cwmhiraeth (
talk) 04:55, 12 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- The word "populations" is overused in the last 2 sentences of #1 of the lead.
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "Koalas were known to indigenous Australians for millennia" - Though no doubt true, this seems an odd remark.
- I don't understand.
LittleJerry (
talk)
- The remark was added because I was concerned that there was no mention of the relationship of Aboriginal groups and Koalas, leading to a somewhat Euro-centric lead. I'm open to it being adjusted, but I do feel a mention of Aboriginals in the lead is needed.
J Milburn (
talk) 15:32, 9 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Well, how about something like "Koalas play an important role in the culture of indigenous Australians"
Cwmhiraeth (
talk) 19:09, 9 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Done.
LittleJerry (
talk) 03:06, 10 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- After some back-and-forth adjusting, I've changed it to "Koalas have been known to
indigenous Australians for millennia; they hunted the animals and depicted them in
myths and
cave art." Does that seem satisfactory?
Sasata (
talk) 01:04, 12 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- What about "Koalas were hunted by
indigenous Australians and depicted in
myths and
cave art for millennia". I agree that "known to" sounds a bit silly. --
99of9 (
talk) 15:48, 12 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Done.
LittleJerry (
talk) 14:54, 15 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- The caption for the range map needs clarification.
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "larger molars and premolars (causing the teeth to move downwards within the head)" - Is this downward movement in both jaws? Please clarify.
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "These forms are distinguished by pelage colour and thickness, size and skull shape." - Somewhat ambiguous - I thought at first it was the skull that had varying thickness and size.
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "On 9 April 2013, a team of scientists from the Queensland University of Technology led by professor of microbiology Peter Timms announced they had sequenced the koala genome." - This sentence seems unnecessarily detailed.
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "Koalas have curved, sharp claws that allow them to climb trees." - Lions have curved, sharp claws. Are they allowed to climb trees too?
- Yes.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "The koala has a cartilaginous pad at the end of the spine that may serve to make it more comfortable to sit in tree forks." - The second half of this sentence might be better "that may make it more comfortable when it perches in the fork of a tree."
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "... resulting in more efficient stomach digestion and nutrient absorption in the small intestine.[42] Koalas may also store food in their cheek pouches before it is ready to be chewed.[43] After chewing, the food passes through the relatively small stomach and into the small intestine, which digests the eucalyptus leaves to provide most of the animal's energy" - Seems somewhat repetitive. Perhaps the cheek pouch sentence could be moved and the other two combined.
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "The population on Magnetic Island represents the northern limit of their range." - "its range".
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "In Queensland, koalas are unevenly distributed with the exception of the southeast." - are they numerous or scarce in the southeast?
This is how the source presents it.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 17:14, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- ... they have meagre fat reserves and cannot be deprived of food for more than 24 hours." - I think you mean that they need to feed often otherwise this will starve.
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Paragraph 2 of "Foraging and activities" seems to imply that the koala uses its limited brain power to make decisions on limiting energy use and conserving energy.
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- What happens if it rains continuously for more than 24 hours?
- Doesn't say. They are different sources.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "... and individuals are known to sniff the base of a tree before climbing.[62] Scent marking is known ..." - Overuse of "known".
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 16:32, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "When climbed over by a conspecific, ..." - how about "When another individual climbs over it, ..."?
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 21:24, 9 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "At seven weeks of age, the head grows longer and becomes proportionally large" " - You have just been referring to the female so perhaps "the joey's head"
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 21:24, 9 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "...to attach a loop of ropey bark to the end of the long, thin pole, ..." - Perhaps "a long, thin pole"
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 21:24, 9 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "Since European arrival, localised deforestation of eucalypts ..." - I would prefer "Since Europeans arrived" or "Since the arrival of Europeans".
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 21:24, 9 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- "Chlamydiosis" is mentioned in the last paragraph but not by name in the health and mortality section.
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 21:24, 9 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Not realy. Chlamydiosis is a diseases caused by a pathogen in the Chlamydophila genus.
Cwmhiraeth (
talk) 04:58, 10 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Fixed.
LittleJerry (
talk) 00:13, 12 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Not many problems this time. The whole article is an interesting read and I now know much more about koalas than I did previously.
Cwmhiraeth (
talk) 19:56, 9 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
Thank you.
LittleJerry (
talk) 21:24, 9 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- All the points I raised have been actioned and I now support this nomination.
Cwmhiraeth (
talk) 04:55, 12 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
Source review – the FA coordinator has asked for a source review, which I shall be happy to carry out within the next three days (or within the next 24 hours if the British Library has the books onsite.)
Tim riley (
talk) 13:24, 17 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Tks Tim, although pls see
this by way of clarification... ;-) Cheers,
Ian Rose (
talk) 13:39, 17 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Oh, right! Well I'd do it tomorrow with those books the BL has to hand. A swift and selective check, reporting back by tea-time tomorrow GMT.
Tim riley (
talk) 13:49, 17 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Source review and spot-checks
- References: only one quibble on the referencing:
- Spot-checks
- Online sources
- 15% of online refs checked. All accurate, with no close paraphrase
- Books
- Moyal: checked refs 2a/b, 36, 45, 112, 131, 142 and 149 – all fine
- Martin and Handasyde: checked refs 20a/b, 41a, 57, 76, 78, 91 and 126 – all fine
- Jackson: checked refs 21a, 37a, 52, 70, 72 and 150 – all fine.
All impeccably done. And I greatly enjoyed the article, let me say.
Tim riley (
talk) 15:35, 18 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- Thanks for checking, Tim; I fixed the title of ref#118.
Sasata (
talk) 16:01, 18 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
Comments Support - on comprehensiveness and prose reading through now. queries below.
Cas Liber (
talk ·
contribs) 11:00, 26 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- I
wonder whether "within the order Diprotodontia" is necessary in the lead. I feel a little like we're bombarding the reader with classifications.
- Done.
LittleJerry (
talk) 13:29, 26 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
Err, we sometimes call it a koala bear here in oz too... :P
- Done.
LittleJerry (
talk) 13:29, 26 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
It has a full body length - why is "full" needed?
- Done.
LittleJerry (
talk) 13:29, 26 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- In Queensland, koalas are unevenly distributed and uncommon expect in the southeast - "except"?
- I don't understand.
LittleJerry (
talk) 13:29, 26 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
-
this - done now.
Cas Liber (
talk ·
contribs) 13:44, 26 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
looks alright otherwise.
Cas Liber (
talk ·
contribs) 11:21, 26 July 2013 (UTC)
reply
- The above discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page.