These web pages allow you to access a database of simple authoritative descriptions of Australian animals and plants. In the future, additional groups such as fungi and micro-organisms may be added.
There are four ways to find a particular species:
- Records by phylum: Examine the list of all the Phylums that have had Species Bank records entered. Choose a Phylum list by clicking on its link. This provides a list of all the records loaded for the particular Phylum, sorted alphabetically by Family and then Scientific name. Each species can be accessed by clicking its link. This is the easiest way to locate a species whilst there are relatively low numbers of records.
- Easy Search for species: Enter part or all of a common or scientific name.
- Advanced Search: Enter part or all of a common or scientific name, as well as keywords from other parts of the description. A fuzzy search option can be applied to the common or scientific name, but is slower to execute. The search can be restricted by occurrence in any of Australia's States or Territories. The advanced search facility also allows some control over the format of the display of each selected species.
- Browsing: Choose the general group of species that you are interested in, and work down to more specific groups. At each level the next lower level of groups is displayed, along with the hierarchy of higher groups.
For more assistance with searching go to: Using Species Bank.
After searching or browsing, a list of species that match your criteria are displayed. Select the one you are interested in to view the full description.
Each description comprises distribution maps and images along with descriptions of Features, Distribution, Ecology and Lifestyle, Human Interaction and Threats, Further Reading and, in some cases, there are links to general topics which provide additional information relevant to all the species that link to it. For some species, additional images and audio and video are also available for viewing or playing by clicking on the thumbnail image or link.
