Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System—ITIS—is the first comprehensive, standardized reference for the scientific names, as well as synonyms and common names, for all the plants and animals of North America and the surrounding oceans. This database is accessible over the Internet and is used by scientists, resource managers, educators and students, museum curators, conservationists, and the interested public. ITIS is being developed through the cooperative efforts of several Federal agencies, including the U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agricultural Research Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. In 1997, Canada (Research Agriculture Canada) and Mexico (CONABIO) also joined the ITIS partnership. CBI staff provide scientific and technical leadership, coordination, and support to ITIS. The ITIS partner agencies collaborate with taxonomic specialists throughout the world, who act as "stewards" to develop, review, and verify the reliability and quality of the data, making necessary revisions and adding newly described species.