What the work includes
The examination is based on the objects supplied, photographs, documents, information on conditions of discovery, comparison samples and the questions posed.
- initial assessment of the object, packaging and conditions of discovery;
- analysis of features indicating plant or animal origin;
- assessment of possible species, genus or group identification;
- comparison with comparison samples, where available;
- preparation of a report, expert report review or analytical position.
Typical questions
- whether the object is of biological origin;
- whether the object belongs to wild flora or wild fauna;
- what diagnostic features the object has;
- whether species, genus or group identification is possible;
- whether the findings of a previous examination are substantiated.
Pricing
from RUB 75,000. The exact cost depends on the object type, number of samples, questions, need for laboratory work and urgency.
From diagnostic features to species identification
When identifying a species, it is important to trace which features have been preserved in the submitted object. A whole plant, a fragment of wood and a finished product provide different amounts of information. The opinion should make clear what was examined directly and the taxonomic level supported by the results: a broader group, genus or specific species.
A common name on a delivery note or a trade designation is useful for defining the task, but does not replace a finding from the examination. If different names are used in the documents, retain them together with their dates and sources. For the specialist, this is a reason to check whether they refer to the same presumed object, rather than to choose the most convenient designation.
Separate the questions in the assignment
- What diagnostic features have been established in the submitted object?
- What level of identification do they support, and which closely related alternatives can be distinguished?
- Are photographs sufficient, or is direct access to the object necessary?
- What information and comparison materials could help refine the identification?
The identified species is checked against a protected-species list using the precise name and the version of the document relevant to the task. A finding on species and a legal assessment of the lawfulness of circulation have different purposes. An object's inclusion in a list should not be established solely from a common name or a similar photograph. Where the material is incompletely preserved, it is important to show explicitly what has been established with confidence and which alternatives remain indistinguishable.