Questions about flora and fauna specimens

Search questions

Suitability and preservation

01Suitability and preservationWhat is the condition of the submitted object on the date of examination?

02Suitability and preservationIs the object sufficiently well preserved to answer the question posed?

03Suitability and preservationWhich features have been altered by storage or processing?

04Suitability and preservationAre there signs that objects or fragments have been mixed?

05Suitability and preservationWhat limitations arise from incomplete information about provenance?

06Suitability and preservationWhat additional materials are needed for the examination?

Plant specimens

07Plant specimensWhat morphological features are present in the plant specimen?

08Plant specimensIs it possible to identify its species, genus or group?

09Plant specimensAre the plant fragments suitable for a comparative examination?

10Plant specimensCould drying or storage conditions have altered significant features?

11Plant specimensWhat comparison samples or descriptions are needed?

12Plant specimensCan the question be answered from photographs without the physical object?

Animal specimens

13Animal specimensWhat features does the submitted object of animal origin have?

14Animal specimensIs it possible to assess its species, genus or group?

15Animal specimensAre the fragments and derived objects suitable for answering the question posed?

16Animal specimensWhat changes could have occurred during processing of the raw material?

17Animal specimensWhich features require examination by a different specialist method?

18Animal specimensIs the documentation of the object's provenance sufficient?

Raw materials and derivatives

19Raw materials and derivativesWhich features indicate the origin of the submitted material?

20Raw materials and derivativesCould processing prevent identification of the original object?

21Raw materials and derivativesCan the supplied fragments be compared with the specified comparison material?

22Raw materials and derivativesCan the available methods distinguish natural material from an imitation?

23Raw materials and derivativesWhat additional documents are needed to verify the stated provenance?

24Raw materials and derivativesWhat limits on the findings result from the absence of the original object?

Documents and provenance

25Documents and provenanceWhat information has been provided about where, when and how the object was obtained?

26Documents and provenanceCan the object be linked to the description in the protocol or record?

27Documents and provenanceDo the markings on the packaging match the accompanying documents?

28Documents and provenanceIs there information about the chain of transfer and storage conditions?

29Documents and provenanceWhat changes to the object are recorded in the submitted documents?

30Documents and provenanceWhat information is needed to frame the question for the expert properly?

Methods and review

31Methods and reviewAre the source materials for the opinion under review sufficient?

32Methods and reviewDoes the examination section reflect the actual condition of the object?

33Methods and reviewIs the choice of comparison materials and methods justified?

34Methods and reviewDo the findings correspond to the features established?

35Methods and reviewHave the limitations arising from the fragmentary nature of the object been considered?

36Methods and reviewDo any findings exceed the practitioner's specialist knowledge?

For a review

37For a reviewIs identification of the object supported by the diagnostic features described?

38For a reviewHave the preservation and provenance of the examined samples been taken into account?

39For a reviewAre the biological findings separated from the legal assessment of the object's status?

40For a reviewDo the findings address the questions posed?

41For a reviewAre the source materials and limitations of the examination described sufficiently?

42For a reviewCan the course of the examination be checked from the report's text and appendices?

43For a reviewAre the analytical section and final findings consistent?

44For a reviewAre established facts distinguished from assumptions?

45For a reviewHave significant alternative explanations been considered?

46For a reviewWhich deficiencies may affect the report's validity?

These formulations are a starting point. Questions are refined according to the objects, available materials and the expert's competence.

How to select questions

Specify the object, its condition, provenance and the purpose of the examination. Questions about species and origin require an assessment of the materials' suitability for the specific task.

Limits of conclusions

The examination does not replace DNA analysis, veterinary, sanitary and epidemiological, or state nature-conservation examination. The need for specialist methods is agreed separately. Legal classification and assessment of evidence are carried out by the authorized body.

Discuss examination of the object

Describe the task and questions that need to be answered. Provide contact details for a reply; the terms of the particular service are agreed separately.

Your nameContact phone number or email *Briefly describe the task *Attach documents or photographs

Up to ten files of 10 MB each. Formats: JPG, PNG, PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, TXT, RTF, HEIC and ZIP.

I give consent to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of considering and responding to my enquiry.

How data is processed: Personal Data Processing Policy. Attach only the materials needed; where possible, conceal unnecessary data about other people.

Leave blank

For an assessment, it is advisable to attach photographs of the object, a description of its discovery, documents on collection, packaging and provenance, and the court's questions.

Attachments: up to 10 files of up to 10 MB each, with a maximum combined size of 15 MB. If a file is rejected, the enquiry is not sent.

Questions for the expert

Suitability and preservation

Plant specimens

Animal specimens

Raw materials and derivatives

Documents and provenance

Methods and review

For a review

How to select questions

Limits of conclusions

Discuss examination of the object