The Wikidata versions are functional if just the major ranks are required, but lack flexibility. The big issue is what to do when multiple parents are presented.
Multiple ranks is also an issue.
The current version takes a preferred parent, but if none is preferred it takes the first by default. The following experiment shows how taking the first or last parent produces quite different results. The following tables show an example (for Passer) selecting first or last parent when multiple parents are entered. The automated taxonomy version is shown to the right.
Using first parent when multiple parents on Wikidata
Using last parent when multiple parents on Wikidata Automated taxobox system
Ancestral taxa taken from Wikidata. Bold taxa show those that will be displayed in taxobox.
The main difference is the parent for Aves, which can be Tetrapoda or Paraves. The latter then gets a much more detailed taxonomy with all the archosaur classification. The first mimics the skip templates, but unfortunately there is no useful pattern to how the parents are entered on Wikidata, apart from first come first served.
Example using Felis
Using first parent when multiple parents on Wikidata
Using last parent when multiple parents on Wikidata Automated taxobox system
Ancestral taxa taken from Wikidata. Bold taxa show those that will be displayed in taxobox.
