EFB 485 Herpetology Spring 2017
Class-wide iNaturalist Project
Concept:
Together we can start a permanent baseline of “herps” records
associated with ESF community of biologists, within and beyond this
class. You can also assemble a photo-vouchered personal collection for
this class and for your own purposes
Directions for EFB 485 iNaturalist class project
1. You can access iNaturalist through either your mobile device or the internet.
2. For your mobile device, download iNaturalist from either the Apple Store or Android store – it is
free.
3. Via the internet the URL is: www.inaturalist.org
4. Create a user account
5. Search for and join the “EFB485 Herpetology SUNY-ESF project”
6. Once you are “in” EFB485 Herpetology SUNY-ESF project you should be able to add
observations either through the project page or the observations page. Click on the “add” button.
7. Input the information for each observation.
8. You must contribute a photo-vouchered record at least one member of each of the following four
major groups and minimally 10 different species in total: Anura (frogs, toads), Caudata
(salamanders, newts), Testudines (turtles and tortoises), and Squamata (lizards, snakes). You
are not required to but certainly are welcome to contribute observations of Gymnophiona
(caecilians), Crocodilia (crocodiles, gavials, caimans, and alligators), and Sphenodontia (tuatara)
– these will count toward your total.
9. All your observations must have been taken in 2016 or 2017 and at least ½ during ESF’s spring
semester 2017.
10. Wild species best, but captive acceptable (but no more than 25% [or 4] of your 10 species
minimum may be captive animals).
11. You get full credit (100pts) if you met all requirements, 25 points off if you miss a major group
and/or 10 points off for however many species still needed to meet the 10 species quota.
12. No credit if observations plagiarized - e.g., photos stolen from the internet. All images must be
taken by you! (we easily validate voucher images submitted – that is determine if images were
plagiarized from the internet).
13. You need to provide us with your user ID so we can monitor your progress
14. Collections are “due” by 4/27 – you may begin your collection any time.
15. You commit to all animal welfare and protections laws being adhered to as well as land access
permissions in the pursuit of herps
16. Have fun and good luck!
EFB 485 Herpetology Spring 2017
Class-wide iNaturalist Project: Final reporting form
Your real name:_______________________________
Your iNat user name:_______________________________
List the species you found as Genus and species and month/day/year of report. We will
crosswalk your observations below with the downloaded iNat database based on your
username. Fill in TYPED and print and pass in during lab. All observations must be photovouchered
Total observations:_______________
SPECIES REPORTED (minimum 10 distinct species with at least 1 from each of the four groups
below)
Anura (frogs, toads):
Caudata (salamanders, newts):
Testudines (turtles and tortoises):
Squamata (lizards, snakes):