As anyone attending our ID course will know, species names are undergoing considerable upheaval currently, as a consequence of DNA analysis. This is resulting in species disappearing (for example the ‘breadcrumb sponge – a single species with 50+ scientific names) or appearing (for example with cryptic species ), or are moved between genuses.

The ‘Catalogue of Life’ is a potentially helpful resource for anyone wanting to check on a scientific name for a species, as it permits searches against an extensive library of scientific synonyms (so it should tell you if you have an older name, and what the current name should be). It is not entirely infalible – it still quotes Laminaria saccharina as the accepted scientific name for ‘sugar kelp’, where I believe this has recently been updated to Saccharina latissima based on DNA evidence (this is a recent change though – so probably just not have come through yet).

The site also permits you to browse through the taxonomic tree of marine life – which is fun, though without keys you will need some knowledge of the biological classification to use it. The site also carries broad distribution data, and links to off-site resources.

Image top right: The common lobster Homarus gammarus, with inset a simplified taxanomic tree from the Catalogue of Life.

Catalogue of Life: 2010 Annual Checklist You will need Javascript enabled to use this site.