Welcome to our class project! When out taking photos please keep the following guidelines in mind:

• It is very important that you do not disturb any wildlife. For your own safety and the safety of the organism, do not touch the organism you are observing. Be aware that some organism, such as threatened species, may be legally protected against harassment (including touching and picking up the organism). Other organism may harm you if touched (such as plants that can cause skin reactions like poison ivy). Some organisms may be provoked if you approach them or their offspring (such as alligators and birds). Keep a safe distance from the organisms you are observing and be aware of your surroundings. Safety is a priority.

• iNaturalist is a public site. Do not upload images that break iNaturalist Terms and Services or violate Copyright Laws.

• Do not take identifiable photos of yourself. It is ok to include your hands, feet, and clothing in your photos, but please do not include full photos of yourself or others in observations.

• Avoid taking a photo of a captive, cultivated, domesticated, and feral organism. Also, only observations within the state of Florida can be added to this project.

• Take multiple, clear photos at different angles. The photo quality needs to be high enough that the organism can be identified.

• Document key information including the time and date at which the observation was taken, the habitat in which your observation was made, visual characteristics of organism, and other important information (behavior, presence of a symbiont, etc.)

Having trouble identifying an organism? Think you have the correct ID but need some resources to verify it? These free online ID guides can help you!

• All Life
Encyclopedia of Life: https://eol.org

• Protist
o Diatoms
Diatoms of North America: https://diatoms.org/morphology
o Amoebozoa
International Society for Testate Amoeba Research: http://istar.wikidot.com/id-keys
Discover Life - Slime Molds: https://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?search=Eumycetozoa
o Algae
Reef Guide – Algae: https://reefguide.org/keys/index26.html
Florida Gulf Coast University Algae ID guide (PDF): https://www.capecoral.net/department/public_works/docs/FGCU_Algae_Identification_Guide.pdf

• Plants
o General Plant Guides
Plants of the World Online: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org
Atlas of Florida Plants: http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/
The Plant List: http://www.theplantlist.org
Florida Native Plant Society: https://www.fnps.org/plants
Discover Life Plant ID: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Trees&cl=US/FL
Southeastern Flora ID: http://www.southeasternflora.com/SearchForm.php
o Nonvascular Plants
Bryophyte Flora of North America: http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=50

• Fungi and Lichen
o Fungi
Mushroom Observer: https://mushroomobserver.org
USF species project-Florida Fungi: http://arborist.forest.usf.edu/floridafungi
Field Guide to Common macro-fungi in Eastern Forests: https://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/gtr/gtr_nrs79.pdf
Species Fungorum: http://www.speciesfungorum.org/Names/Names.asp
Index Fungorum: http://www.indexfungorum.org/Names/Names.asp
o Lichens
Ways of Enlichenment: https://www.waysofenlichenment.net/lichens/
Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria: http://lichenportal.org/portal/
Key for Florida Lichens: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/herbarium/lib/pdf/Rosentreter_Field_oriented_keys_to_the_Florida_lichens_Dec_2015.pdf

• Animals: Radiata, Porifera, Protostomes
o General Marine Guides
World Register of Marine Species: http://www.marinespecies.org
Reef Guide: https://reefguide.org/keys/
FWC Marine Invertebrate Guide: http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/codes/marine-life-invertebrates/
Picture Guide to Gulf of Mexico Invertebrate: https://www.gsmfc.org/pubs/SEAMAP/A%20Picture%20Guide%20to%20Shelf%20Invertebrates%20from%20the%20Northern%20Gulf%20of%20Mexico.pdf
o Sponges
Reef Guide - Sponges: https://reefguide.org/keys/index24.html
o Corals
Reef Guide – Soft Corals: https://reefguide.org/keys/index24.html
Reef Guide - Stony Corals: https://reefguide.org/keys/index25.html
o Mollusks
MolluscaBase: http://www.molluscabase.org
Florida Reef Mollusks: https://reefguide.org/keys/index18.html
Applesnails: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/gastro/apple_snails.htm
Terrestrial Mollusc Tool: http://idtools.org/id/mollusc/key.php
o General Insect Guides
Bug Guide: https://bugguide.net/node/view/15740
Insect Identification - Florida: https://www.insectidentification.org/insects-by-state.asp?thisState=Florida
Bug Identification Key: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/bug_club/bug_ID/index.shtml
o Ants
AntWeb: http://www.antweb.org
o Mantids
Mantodea Species File Online: http://mantodea.speciesfile.org/HomePage/Mantodea/HomePage.aspx
o Stick and Leaf Insects
Phasmid Species File Online: http://phasmida.speciesfile.org/HomePage/Phasmida/HomePage.aspx
o Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids
Orthoptera Species File Online: http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/HomePage/Orthoptera/HomePage.aspx
o Caterpillar, Butterfly, and Moth
A Catalogue of the Butterflies of the United States and Canada: http://butterfliesofamerica.com/US-Can-Cat-1-30-2011.htm
Discover Life Caterpillar ID: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Caterpillars
o Spider
World Spider Catalog: https://wsc.nmbe.ch/
Spider ID: https://spiderid.com/locations/united-states/florida/
Project Noah-Arachnids: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/22872004
o Myriapoda
ChiloBase: http://chilobase.biologia.unipd.it
MilliBase: http://millibase.org

• Animals: Deuterostomes
o Echinoderms
Reef Guide - Sea stars: https://reefguide.org/keys/index20.html
Reef Guide - Sea Urchins/Cucumbers: https://reefguide.org/keys/index21.html
o Marine Fish
FishBase: https://www.fishbase.de
FWC Freshwater Fish Guide: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/freshwater/
FWC Saltwater Fish Guide: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/saltwater/
Space Coast Saltwater Fish ID guide: http://spacecoast-florida.com/saltwater-fish-identification/
o Sharks, Skates, and Rays
Florida Museum Skates and Rays Species Profiles: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/fish/discover/rays-skates/species-profiles/
Reef Guide – Sharks and Rays: https://reefguide.org/keys/index14.html
Florida Museum Field Key to Atlantic Shark Species: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/saltwater/
o Amphibians
Amphibian Species of the World: http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/index.php
Florida Museum Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/herpetology/florida-amphibians-reptiles/checklist-atlas/
o General Reptile Guides
The Reptile Database: http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz
o Snakes
Florida Museum Snakes Identification Guide: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-snakes/visual-id/
o Birds
The Clements Checklist: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/
Florida Ornithological Society-Official Florida State Bird List: http://www.fosbirds.org/florida-bird-list.html
FWC Bird ID Guide: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/
Central Florida Backyard Identification: https://www.blog.catandturtle.net/backyard-bird-identification/
o Marine Reptiles and Mammals
Reef Guide: https://reefguide.org/keys/index27.html
o Mammals
IUCN Red List: https://www.iucnredlist.org
FWC Florida Mammal Guide: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/

Need a camera? The USF library rents out all kinds of equipment for free to students including cameras, camcorders, GoPros, and more! For more information see the USF Equipment Checkout: http://www.lib.usf.edu/dmc/equipment/
Cameras must be rented in-person. The library needs notice to rent a camera; rentals are 3 days.