~ Early Web Links ~

The Kentucky Paleontological Society maintains this hub for fossil enthusiasts in the Bluegrass State, featuring field trip reports, taxonomic fossil photo galleries, and an impressive library of digitized historical geology texts dating back to the 1860s. From Ordovician trilobites to tetrapod trackways, the site covers Kentucky's rich fossil record with resources for both amateur collectors and researchers.

A comprehensive scientific checklist of all Collembola (springtails) species in the world, searchable by taxon and linked to global distribution maps at family, genus, and species levels. The site also includes biology overviews, identification guides, collecting techniques, bibliographies, and images, making it an invaluable reference for entomologists and naturalists.

The Cincinnati Dry Dredgers claim the title of the oldest continuously-operating fossil club in North America, bringing together amateur geologists and fossil collectors in the Cincinnati area since their founding. The site features extensive fossil identification guides for trilobites, crinoids, echinoderms, brachiopods, and more, plus field trip photos, member activities, and resources for finding Ordovician-era fossils in the region.

Brian W. Coad, a retired ichthyologist from the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, shares decades of expertise through resources including a Dictionary of Ichthyology, annotated checklists of Canadian fishes, and detailed studies of freshwater fishes from Iran and Iraq. The site is a remarkable reference collection for anyone interested in fish taxonomy, zoogeography, and biodiversity, with content serious enough to be published as academic papers and books.

Diptera.info is a comprehensive portal dedicated to the insect order Diptera, covering flies, midges, and gnats with galleries, checklists, catalogues, and an active identification forum for researchers and enthusiasts worldwide. With over 5,000 members, a larva gallery, downloadable articles, and curated web links to scientific collections and catalogues, it serves as a serious reference hub for dipterists at all levels.

Xeno-canto is a massive community-driven database of wildlife sound recordings from around the world, covering birds, frogs, mammals, bats, and more, browsable by region or taxonomy. Launched in 2005, it serves researchers, birders, and curious listeners alike with tens of thousands of freely downloadable recordings backed by an open API and active community forum.

A digitized 1922 educational text by Charles Lathrop Pack, President of the American Tree Association, covering all aspects of forestry from how trees grow to national forest policy and the dangers of fire and disease. Hosted on Project Gutenberg, this freely available ebook spans 18 chapters and includes period photographs of forests, rangers, and fire damage, making it a fascinating historical resource on early American conservation thought.

A firsthand account of fossil hunting at the Mazon Creek site in Illinois, one of the world's most celebrated locations for soft-body fauna preservation found inside concretions. The author shares photos, practical tips on finding nodules, and personal observations from multiple visits to this unique strip-mine-turned-wildlife-preserve.

Virginia Tech's Dendrology and Forest Biology site is a comprehensive academic resource for tree identification, featuring factsheets, ID keys, a vTree app, and databases covering superlative and remarkable trees. Built by Dr. John Seiler, John Peterson, and collaborators, it serves as a go-to reference for students, landowners, and naturalists interested in woody plants across North America.

A German-language gallery dedicated to Cryptocoryne and Lagenandra aquatic plants, featuring photographs and information about these popular aquarium plant genera and their hybrids. Enthusiasts of tropical water plants will find this a specialized visual reference for identifying and appreciating these fascinating species.