It's-Like-Nature-Man-Wow (Nature Search Engine)

NatureServe ( http://www.natureserve.org/index. htm ) is a search engine cataloging conservation information on over 50,000 plants, animals, and "ecological communities" in North America.

You can search for either plants and animals or ecological communities. The plant and animal search allows you to search by name (common or scientific), group (ie birds) or species group (plants, fungi, or animals in various states of spine.) There are also options to search by location (US State or Canadian Province) or status (from "Presumed Extinct" through "Not Yet Ranked.")

(Click Search Now. Get time out notice. Know darn well I haven't timed out. Try twice more. Get irritated. Realize finally that since I'm blocking cookies the site is stupidly assuming I'm timing out. Sigh noisily. Enable cookies.)

After an intermediate screen (which describes the search options you chose) the search results appear. Search results consist of the name of the animal/plant (scientific and common), distribution, and links to additional information (summary, distribution, status, and "comprehensive.")

Those four reports appear on one screen, separated by tabs. Information includes taxonomy, conservation status, references, and life history. Some listings have more information than others -- the bald eagle had far more information than the redtail skink.

The ecological communities search allows you to search by community name, with additional search options by location and conservation status. Search results provide category name (Mixed evergreen-deciduous shrubland, etc.), scientific name, common name, distribution, and links to additional information as described above.

Thick but comprehensive. Worth a look.

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