# Species+

## URL

<https://www.speciesplus.net/species>

## Description<br>

This website provides information on all species currently listed in the [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)](https://cites.org/eng/disc/text.php), the [Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)](https://www.cms.int/), and other environmental agreements ([MEAs](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/international-cooperation/multilateral-environmental-agreements-meas_en)). You can search by species, higher taxon, synonym, common name, or directly search for a document produced by CITES, such as reports, on a specific species. The entire database can be downloaded.

The tool can be used by researchers and individuals who want to know or confirm the current status of a species, i.e., whether it can be traded or not, what type of regulations, quotas, suspensions, or decisions apply in certain regions.

<figure><img src="/files/GpDYHsBLcHKmzeXDgxvf" alt=""><figcaption><p>For example, here I searched for “pangolin.” To give some context, all pangolin species are listed in Appendix I of CITES, which means they are completely prohibited from international trade. I got 8 results.</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/7ahqGB7xOOxZF4GxyNHW" alt=""><figcaption><p>When I clicked on the first result, I obtained information about the species and the CITES list, which confirmed my ideas about the pangolin ban.</p></figcaption></figure>

In addition, this tool is useful for finding information on geographical distribution and other names for species. It also has a repository of documents for each species, which is very useful for finding out about CITES proposals, reviews, and identification materials.

Also available as an app on [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.WCMC.speciesplus\&hl=en) and the [App Store.](https://apps.apple.com/co/app/species/id1641695320)

## Cost

* [x] Free
* [ ] Partially Free
* [ ] Paid

## Level of difficulty

<table><thead><tr><th data-type="rating" data-max="5"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Requirements

None.

## Limitations

None so far.

## Ethical Considerations

None so far.

## Guides and articles

The [Species+ About page](https://www.speciesplus.net/about) provides information on how to use the site.

## Tool provider

[UNEP-WCMC](https://www.unep-wcmc.org/en), based in Cambridge (United Kingdom), and the [CITES Secretariat](https://cites.org/eng/disc/sec/index.php), based in Geneva (Switzerland).

## Similar tools

Within Species+ there is a list of related websites/applications that serve a similar purpose: listing vulnerable species in the CITES and CMS agreements in comprehensive databases, which sometimes contain trade data. The sites are:

* [Checklist of CITES Species ](https://checklist.cites.org/#/en)- This tool focuses on providing information about the level of protection assigned to each CITES-listed species.
* [CITES Trade Database](https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/cites-trade-database) - Provides commercial information on species by country.
* [EU Captive breeding database](https://captivebreeding.unep-wcmc.org/) - Contains captive bred, ranching and mariculture information of animal species listed in the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations.
* [CITES Wildlife TradeView](https://tradeview.cites.org/) \[[Find our toolkit entry here](https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/cites-trade-database)] - It focuses on commercial behavior with regard to protected species using visual elements.
* [CITES Non-Detriment Findings Support Tool](https://ndfsupport.unep-wcmc.org/en) - Specialized in providing information about whether international trade in CITES listed-species is detrimental or not.

## Advertising Trackers

* [x] This tool has not been checked for advertising trackers yet.
* [ ] This tool uses tracking cookies. Use with caution.
* [ ] This tool does not appear to use tracking cookies.

| Page maintainer |
| --------------- |
| Lieth Carrillo  |
|                 |


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