Searching the CAS Invertebrate Zoology Collection Database

General Remarks

The query form enables you to retrieve specimen records by virtually any combination of fields present in the database.

Query feedback. The query parameters entered on the form are summarized in query language at the top of every result page. Read the query statement to be sure that the query being processed is what you intended. Some browsers have a tendency to "remember" parameters from previous queries. Press the Clear button between queries to clear previously used parameters.

Number of records. The number of records retrieved by the query is reported immediately after the query feedback (near the top of the page) while the results are formatted. If the number returned is much larger than you expected or want to wait for, press the "STOP" button on your browser to cancel the query. You can create a more restrictive query by adding additional criteria to the form.

Retrieval Limit. The number of records retrieved is limited to 1,000 to prevent "excessive resource consumption" by a single user and to prevent browser crashes; large result sets can cause some computers to lock up. Note that 1,000 records can amount to more than 1.5 MBs of data.

Input Types On The Form

Text Box

a text box

A simple text box accepts a string of alpha-numeric characters and compares it against values in the database. The input string must match the entire value, unless wildcard characters are used. Wildcard characters are the percent sign (%) and the question mark (?). The percent sign matches zero to many characters, whereas the question mark matches one and only one character. For example, searching the species field with "rhino%" will match "rhinoceratus" and "rhinostoma".
 

Single-Select List Box

 

[any] 1st choice 2nd choice 3rd choice a single-select list box

A single-select list box displays all the values that occur in the database, but allows only one value to be used in a given query. The default value, "<any>", causes the field to be ignored.


 

Multi-Select List Box

1st choice 2nd choice 3rd choice 4th choice a multi-select list box

A multi-select list box displays all the values that occur in the database and allows multiple values to be used in a given query. Use Ctrl-Click to toggle individual selections on and off; i.e., hold the Control key down (Windows), or the Command key (Macintosh) when you click on a value. Note, clicking a value without holding down the control key (i.e., a simple click) clears all other selections in the list box and leaves the most recently clicked value as the only selection. Note also that some browsers "remember" selected values between queries even though the selected values are not visible in (i.e., have scrolled off) the list box. Press the Clear button to clear the form.
 

Check Box

a check box

A check box allows a particular criterion to be turned on or off (ignored).
 

Radio Button

a pair of radio buttons

A radio button must have one and only one selection chosen out of two or more choices.
 

Taxonomic Fields

Phylum

A single-select list box. This field may be most useful to researchers doing faunal studies within a particular geographic region.
 

Higher Classification

A text box. This field includes the class, subclass, and order concatenated into a single string. Wildcards are automatically appended at the beginning and end to perform a substring search. Thus it is not necessary to enter all three levels. One name or even part of a name will suffice.
 

Family

A multi-select list box. The scientific name of the family in which a specimen is classified.
 

Genus 

A text box. The genus name applied to a specimen.
 

Species

A text box. The specific epithet of the scientific name currently applied to the specimen. Wild cards are allowed. The taxonomy used in the database may be slightly different from usage elsewhere. For example, species named after a person may end in "i" or "ii" and are commonly inconsistent across collections. If part of the taxon name is in question, use a percent sign (%) as a wildcard, e.g. "boyl%" instead of "boylii".
 

Author

A text box. The name of the author who first described the species.
 

Type Status

A simple text box. Leading and trailing wildcards appended.
 

Identified By

A simple text box. The name of the person who identified the specimen.
 

Specimen Count

A simple text box. The number of specimens in each lot.
 

Collection Fields

Locality

The textual description of where the specimen was collected; often includes one or more references to a named place and an offset -- direction and distance from the named place. The contents of this field are full text indexed and can be searched for a single word or phrase; e.g., "Carmel" or "Carmel Valley".
 

Locality Description

A simple text box with leading and trailing wildcards automatically appended.
 

Collecting Method

A simple text box with leading and trailing wildcards automatically appended.
 

Substratum

A simple text box with leading and trailing wildcards automatically appended.
 

Intertidal

A check box. Indicates whether the specimen was caught in an intertidal zone.
 

Depth

A numeric text box. Can be used to specify a single value, an upper or lower boundary of an open-ended range, or an inclusive range of values. Use a hyphen (-) to separate values.
 

Elevation

A numeric text box. Can be used to specify a single value, an upper or lower boundary of an open-ended range, or an inclusive range of values. Use a hyphen (-) to separate values.
 

Field Number

A text box. A number associated with a particular collecting station, locality, or incident.
 

Collector

A simple text box. Collector names are formatted with initials first (when known) then last name; e.g., "J.R. Slevin" or "J.R. Slevin and E.S. King". The search will automatically append both leading and trailing wildcards; e.g., entering "Slevin" will search for "%Slevin%". 
 

Collection Date

A text box. Use dd/mm/yyyy format. Date ranges can be specified by separating dates with a hyphen, e.g. 5/1/1995-5/31/1995.
 

Collection Name

A text box with leading and trailing wildcards automatically appended. Name of the subcollection to which the specimen belongs.
 

Expedition

A text box with leading and trailing wildcards automatically appended.
 

Specimen Characteristics and Identifiers

Catalog Number

A simple text box. All catalog numbers are integers. A single value or an inclusive range of values can be entered. Wildcards are not supported.
 

Accession Number

A simple text box. A number usually assigned to a collection of specimens upon acceptance into the IZ collection.
 

Photos

A simple text box. Specific photo numbers or type of photos.
 

Orig. Fixative

A simple text box. The substance used to initially preserve the specimen. Leading and trailing wildcards appended.
 

Preservative

A simple text box. Indicates the preservative in which the specimen is currently stored. Leading and trailing wildcards appended.
 

EM Mounts

A check box. Electron microscope mounts. Searches for records where the EMMounts field is not null.
 

Publications

A simple text box. Publications in which the specimen has been cited.
 

Microscope Slides

A check box. Searches for instances where the Slides field is not null.
 

Display Options

Page Style - Multiple Pages/Single Page

A pair of radio buttons. Choose Multiple Pages if you would like the results displayed 20 per page, one page at a time. If you would like all the results displayed on one page, choose Single Page.
 

Record Style - Brief Records/Full Records

A pair of radio buttons. Brief Records will display only a few fields of data for each record. Full Records will display all of the data for each record. Be warned that choosing Single Page and Full Records can take a long time to download if there are a large number of records.