Want to go find out whether a certain native or invasive species lives in your community? Vital Signs Species Identification Cards will help you decide whether you found or didn't find the species you were looking for. They'll help you provide Vital Signs Species Experts with the solid written and visual supporting evidence they'll need to confirm your identification, or suggest a different one. They'll help citizen scientists and students review your observations.
Each card has detailed photos of key identifying characteristics, diagrams for comparing similar species, seasonal traits, and an interesting fact that is sure to spice up your field work or dinner conversation. Hey, did you know that one Purple loosestrife plant can make nearly 3 million new seeds each year? I didn't either! We should go look for it after we eat our ice cream.
Our cards are an evolving resource for and by the Vital Signs community. With the help of citizen scientists we have created 45 species cards to date. 20 more are very close to release. Another 140+ are in the works.
We will improve these cards together over time with the addition of your best photographs and sneaky tricks for identifying each species. Contact us with photos, tips, or neat facts that are better than what's on there now, or add them to the discussion forum.
If you find yourself loathe with disappointment that we don't have a card yet for your favorite or least favorite species, make sure to tell us that you're itching for a card! Better yet, help us create it!
Hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata
Variable watermilfoil, Myriophyllum heterophyllum
Eurasian watermilfoil, Myriophyllym spicatum
European naiad, Najas minor
Curly leaf pondweed, Potamogeton crispus
Water chestnut, Trapa natans
Yellow floating heart, Nymphoides peltata
Chinese mystery snail, Cipangopaludina chinensisNEW!
Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis
Common bladderwort, Utricularia macrorhizaNEW!
Coontail, Ceratophyllum demersumNEW!
Prickly hornwort, Ceratophyllum echinatumNEW!
Slender naiad, Najas flexilis
Clasping leaf pondweed, Potamogeton richardsonii
Spatterdock, Nuphar variegata
Little floating heart, Nymphoides cordata
Narrow-leaved cattail, Typha angustifolia
Broad-leaved cattail, Typha latifolia
Caddisfly larva, TrichopteraNEW!
Dragonfly nymph, AnisopteraNEW!
Leech, HirudineaNEW!
Mayfly larva, EphemeropteraNEW!
Scud, Gammaridea (Amphipod)NEW!
Stonefly larva, PlecopteraNEW!
Water scorpion, NepidaeNEW!
Dead man's fingers, Codium fragile
Lacy crust bryozoan, Membranipora membranacea
Green crab, Carcinus maenas
Hairy-clawed shore crab, Hemigrapsus penicillatus
Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus
Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis
Common periwinkle, Littorina littorea
Rapa whelk, Rapana venosa
Knotted wrack, Ascophyllum nodosum
Bladder wrack, Fucus vesiculosus
Jonah crab, Cancer borealis
Rock crab, Cancer irroratus
Smooth periwinkle, Littorina obtusata
Rough periwinkle, Littorina saxatilis
Beach pea, Lathyrus japonicus
Pickleweed, Salicornia depressa
Beach rose, Rosa rugosa
Burning bush, Euonymus alatus NEW!
Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii
Common reed, Phragmites australis
Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata
Giant hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum NEW!
Glossy buckthorn, Frangula alnus
Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica
Lupine, Lupinus polyphyllus NEW!
Mile-a-minute weed, Polygonun perfoliatum
Multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora
Oriental bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus
Porcelain-berry, Ampelopsis brevipedunculat NEW!
Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria
Beach pea, Lathyrus japonicus
Black spruce, Picea mariana NEW!
Blue-bead lily, Clintonia borealis
Bunchberry, Cornus canadensis
Broad-leaved cattail, Typha latifolia
Canadian yew, Taxus canadensis
Eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis NEW!
Highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum
Highbush cranberry, Viburnum trilobum NEW!
Lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium
Maple-leaf viburnum, Viburnum acerfolium NEW!
Meadow rose, Rosa blanda
Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca
Narrow-leaved cattail, Typha angustifolia
Northern bayberry, Myrica pensylvanica NEW!
Pussy willow, Salix discolor
Queen Anne's lace, Daucus carota
Red maple, Acer rubrum NEW!
Redtwig dogwood, Cornus sericea NEW!
Staghorn sumac, Rhus hirta
Sweet fern, Comptonia peregrina
White birch, Betula papyrifera
White pine, Pinus strobus NEW!
Yellow birch, Betula alleghaniensis NEW!
