1. Want to identify a morphospecies? View the specimen from all angles, note any major characteristics,
and get an estimate of its size.
2. Lucid enables the user to select features which identify the organism, and provides a list of
possible matching species. For a step-by-step tutorial, see How to use the Keys.
3. Lucid Player is required to run the keys. After completing a free
registration, it is availalbe for download at Lucid Central. You will also need Java Virtual Machine v1.4.2 or higher,
which is available for free download at java.com.
4. Because of the diversity of organisms in our libraries, there are five
separate keys. If you already know what type of organism you have (ie.
mite, collembola, spider, or other), you can skip directly to that key
(step 6).
5. The "What
is it?" key is the most general, use this key if you do not know what
type of organism you have. Based on your responses, the key will tell
you if you have a mite, a collembola, a spider, or something else. From
there, go to the matching key.
6. These keys contain more specific features, or questions, that are relevant to your type of organism. The keys will lead you to a small number of
morphospecies which match the characteristics of your organism.
7.
Look through the species pages recommended by the key. The species pages contain more detailed information on the morphospecies, including indentifying characteristics,
measurements, and similar species.
8. Hopefully you will find a described morphospecies that matches your mystery organism. This is your species ID.
1. Want to identify a morphospecies? View the specimen from all angles, note any major characteristics,
and get an estimate of its size.
2. Lucid enables the user to select features which identify the organism, and provides a list of
possible matching species. For a step-by-step tutorial, see 
4. Because of the diversity of organisms in our libraries, there are five
separate keys. If you already know what type of organism you have (ie.
mite, collembola, spider, or other), you can skip directly to that key
(step 6).
7.
Look through the species pages recommended by the key. The species pages contain more detailed information on the morphospecies, including indentifying characteristics,
measurements, and similar species.
8. Hopefully you will find a described morphospecies that matches your mystery organism. This is your species ID.