# Reptile Data Formatting Tutorial

This tutorial explains how to use our reptile taxonomy functions to format and access structured information about reptile species in your research or applications.

## Overview of Functions

Our package provides two main functions for working with reptile taxonomic data:

1. `format_all_attributes()`
2. `format_selected_attributes()`

These functions help researchers efficiently organize and access taxonomic information about reptile species from various sources into standardized formats.

## Using `format_all_attributes()`

The `format_all_attributes()` function processes a complete reptile dataset and formats all available taxonomic attributes into structured tibbles (data frames).

### Syntax

    format_all_attributes(reptile_data)

### Parameters

- `reptile_data`: A dataframe or list containing raw reptile taxonomic information

### Return Value

The function returns a list of tibbles, with each tibble containing a specific category of taxonomic information:

- `distribution`: Geographic distribution information
- `synonyms`: Scientific name synonyms throughout taxonomic history
- `higher_taxa`: Taxonomic classification hierarchy
- `subspecies`: Information about recognized subspecies
- `common_names`: Common names in different languages
- `reproduction`: Reproductive biology information
- `types`: Type specimen information
- `diagnosis`: Diagnostic morphological features
- `comments`: Additional taxonomic notes
- `etymology`: Origin and meaning of scientific names
- `references`: Scientific literature references

### Example

    library(reptiledbr)
    #> ── reptiledbr 0.1.0 ──────────────────────────────
    #> ❯ Reptile Database: https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/
    #> ⚠ reptiledb.data Setiembre 2025 (update available: Junio 2026)
    #>
    #> Download latest version:
    #>   http://www.reptile-database.org/data/
    #>
    #> Type ?reptiledbr to get started
    species_list <- c(
      "Lachesis muta",
      "Python bivittatus",
      "Crotalus atrox",
      "Bothrops atrox insularis", # Trinomial (con subespecie) - debería dar error
      "Lachesis sp"
    )

    #
    reptile_data <- get_reptiledb_data(species_list)
    #> ℹ Starting search for 5 species...
    #> ℹ Maximum wait time per request: 10 seconds
    #> Processing: "Lachesis muta"
    #> v Data found for "Lachesis muta"
    #> Processing: "Python bivittatus"
    #> v Data found for "Python bivittatus"
    #> Processing: "Crotalus atrox"
    #> v Data found for "Crotalus atrox"
    #> Processing: "Bothrops atrox insularis"
    #> Warning: ! Trinomial name detected: "Bothrops atrox insularis"
    #> ℹ The database only supports binomial names (genus and species).
    #> Processing: "Lachesis sp"
    #> v Data found for "Lachesis sp"
    #> Warning: No data table found for "Lachesis sp"
    #> ✔ Search completed
    #> ℹ Species found with data: 3
    #> ℹ Species not found: 0
    #> ! Total errors: 2

    #
    reptile_data
    #> # A tibble: 5 × 7
    #>   input_name               genus    species  url   status error_message data
    #>   <chr>                    <chr>    <chr>    <chr> <chr>  <chr>         <list>
    #> 1 Lachesis muta            Lachesis muta     http… succe… <NA>          <tibble>
    #> 2 Python bivittatus        Python   bivitta… http… succe… <NA>          <tibble>
    #> 3 Crotalus atrox           Crotalus atrox    http… succe… <NA>          <tibble>
    #> 4 Bothrops atrox insularis Bothrops atrox    <NA>  error  Trinomial na… <tibble>
    #> 5 Lachesis sp              Lachesis sp       <NA>  error  Page found b… <tibble>

    # Format all attributes
    all_attributes <- format_all_attributes(reptile_data)
    #> Starting to format all attributes...
    #> Attribute formatting successfully completed.

    # Access specific attribute categories
    all_attributes$distribution
    #> # A tibble: 11 × 4
    #>    input_name        genus    species    distribution
    #>    <chr>             <chr>    <chr>      <chr>
    #>  1 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       "Colombia, E Ecuador, Brazil (Minas Ge…
    #>  2 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       "rhombeata: Brazil (Alagoas, Bahia, Ri…
    #>  3 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       "Type locality: Suriname; restricted t…
    #>  4 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus "SE Nepal, India (Assam, Tripura, Sikk…
    #>  5 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus "Introduced to Florida (USA)"
    #>  6 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus "progschai: Sulawesi; Type locality: S…
    #>  7 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus "Type locality: Java (designated by ME…
    #>  8 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      "USA (SE California, S Nevada [A Heind…
    #>  9 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      "Mexico (Mexico [HR 35: 190], Baja Cal…
    #> 10 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      "Type locality: \"Indianola\" [Indiano…
    #> 11 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      "tortugensis: Mexico (Isla Tortuga in …
    all_attributes$common_names
    #> # A tibble: 13 × 4
    #>    input_name        genus    species    common_name
    #>    <chr>             <chr>    <chr>      <chr>
    #>  1 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       E: South American Bushmaster
    #>  2 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       G: Südamerikanischer Buschmeister
    #>  3 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       rhombeata: Atlantic Forest bushmaster
    #>  4 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       NL: Bosmeester
    #>  5 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       Portuguese: Bico-de-Jaca, Cobra-Topete…
    #>  6 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       S: Cuaima; Guayma concha de piña
    #>  7 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus E: Burmese Python
    #>  8 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus G: Dunkler Tigerpython
    #>  9 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus Chinese: 蟒
    #> 10 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      E: Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
    #> 11 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      G: Texas-Klapperschlange, Westliche Di…
    #> 12 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      E: Tortuga Island Rattlesnake (tortuge…
    #> 13 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      S: Cascabel de Diamantes

## Using `format_selected_attributes()`

If you only need specific taxonomic attributes, the `format_selected_attributes()` function allows you to extract only the categories you’re interested in.

### Syntax

    format_selected_attributes(reptile_data, attributes, quiet = FALSE)

### Parameters

- `reptile_data`: A dataframe or list containing raw reptile taxonomic information
- `attributes`: A character vector listing the specific attributes to extract
- `quiet`: Logical value. If TRUE, suppresses processing messages

### Return Value

Returns a list containing only the requested attribute tibbles.

### Example

    # Extract only synonyms, higher taxa, and common names
    selected_info <- format_selected_attributes(
      reptile_data = reptile_data,
      attributes = c("Synonym", "Higher Taxa", "Common Names"),
      quiet = TRUE
    )

    # Access the selected information
    selected_info$Synonym
    #> # A tibble: 81 × 4
    #>    input_name    genus    species synonym
    #>    <chr>         <chr>    <chr>   <chr>
    #>  1 Lachesis muta Lachesis muta    Crotalus mutus LINNAEUS 1766: 373
    #>  2 Lachesis muta Lachesis muta    Coluber crotalinus LINNAEUS 1771
    #>  3 Lachesis muta Lachesis muta    Coluber crotalinus GMELIN 1789: 1094
    #>  4 Lachesis muta Lachesis muta    Scytale catenatus LATREILLE in SONNINI and LA…
    #>  5 Lachesis muta Lachesis muta    Scytale ammodytes LATREILLE in SONNINI and LA…
    #>  6 Lachesis muta Lachesis muta    Coluber alecto SHAW 1802: 405
    #>  7 Lachesis muta Lachesis muta    Lachesis mutus — DAUDIN 1803: 351
    #>  8 Lachesis muta Lachesis muta    Lachesis ater — DAUDIN 1803: 354
    #>  9 Lachesis muta Lachesis muta    Trigonocephalus ammodytes — OPPEL 1811: 390
    #> 10 Lachesis muta Lachesis muta    Cophias crotalinus — MERREM 1820: 144
    #> # ℹ 71 more rows
    selected_info$`Higher Taxa`
    #> # A tibble: 18 × 4
    #>    input_name        genus    species    taxon
    #>    <chr>             <chr>    <chr>      <chr>
    #>  1 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       Viperidae
    #>  2 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       Crotalinae
    #>  3 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       Caenophidia
    #>  4 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       Alethinophidia
    #>  5 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       Serpentes
    #>  6 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       Squamata (snakes)
    #>  7 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus Pythonidae
    #>  8 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus Henophidia
    #>  9 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus Pythonoidea
    #> 10 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus Alethinophidia
    #> 11 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus Serpentes
    #> 12 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus Squamata (snakes)
    #> 13 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      Viperidae
    #> 14 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      Crotalinae
    #> 15 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      Caenophidia
    #> 16 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      Alethinophidia
    #> 17 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      Serpentes
    #> 18 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      Squamata (snakes)
    selected_info$`Common Names`
    #> # A tibble: 13 × 4
    #>    input_name        genus    species    common_name
    #>    <chr>             <chr>    <chr>      <chr>
    #>  1 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       E: South American Bushmaster
    #>  2 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       G: Südamerikanischer Buschmeister
    #>  3 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       rhombeata: Atlantic Forest bushmaster
    #>  4 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       NL: Bosmeester
    #>  5 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       Portuguese: Bico-de-Jaca, Cobra-Topete…
    #>  6 Lachesis muta     Lachesis muta       S: Cuaima; Guayma concha de piña
    #>  7 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus E: Burmese Python
    #>  8 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus G: Dunkler Tigerpython
    #>  9 Python bivittatus Python   bivittatus Chinese: 蟒
    #> 10 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      E: Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
    #> 11 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      G: Texas-Klapperschlange, Westliche Di…
    #> 12 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      E: Tortuga Island Rattlesnake (tortuge…
    #> 13 Crotalus atrox    Crotalus atrox      S: Cascabel de Diamantes

## Working with the Formatted Data

Once you have formatted your reptile data, you can use standard R data manipulation techniques to analyze the information:

    # Find all venomous species
    all_attributes$comments |>
      dplyr::filter(stringr::str_detect(comment_detail, "Venomous"))
    #> # A tibble: 2 × 4
    #>   input_name     genus    species comment_detail
    #>   <chr>          <chr>    <chr>   <chr>
    #> 1 Lachesis muta  Lachesis muta    Venomous!
    #> 2 Crotalus atrox Crotalus atrox   Venomous! Crotalus atrox is responsible for m…

    # Extract distribution information for a specific species
    all_attributes$distribution |>
      dplyr::filter(input_name == "Crotalus atrox")
    #> # A tibble: 4 × 4
    #>   input_name     genus    species distribution
    #>   <chr>          <chr>    <chr>   <chr>
    #> 1 Crotalus atrox Crotalus atrox   "USA (SE California, S Nevada [A Heindl, pers…
    #> 2 Crotalus atrox Crotalus atrox   "Mexico (Mexico [HR 35: 190], Baja California…
    #> 3 Crotalus atrox Crotalus atrox   "Type locality: \"Indianola\" [Indianola, Cal…
    #> 4 Crotalus atrox Crotalus atrox   "tortugensis: Mexico (Isla Tortuga in the Gul…

## Data Structure

Each formatted attribute tibble includes at least these standard columns:

- `input_name`: The original species name provided
- `genus`: The genus name
- `species`: The species epithet
- Attribute-specific column (e.g., `distribution`, `common_name`, `synonym`, etc.)

This consistent structure allows for easy filtering, joining, and analysis across different attribute categories.

## Tips for Effective Use

- When working with large datasets, use `format_selected_attributes()` to improve performance
- Consider that some species may have multiple entries in certain categories (e.g., multiple common names or distribution records)
- The `input_name` column provides a reliable key for joining information across different attribute tibbles

By effectively using these formatting functions, you can streamline your reptile taxonomic research and data analysis workflows.