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Getting Started

This guide walks you through your first experience with Species, from creating an account to completing your first study session.

Creating Your Account

Visit Species and sign up using the link on the home page. Once your account is created, you will have immediate access to all free decks in the library.

Browsing the Deck Library

The deck library is organized in a hierarchy:

  1. Categories — Broad groupings such as Animals or Plants.
  2. Groups — Subdivisions within a category, such as Mammals, Reptiles, or Birds.
  3. Subgroups — Further subdivisions, such as Big Cats, Snakes, or Birds of Prey.
  4. Decks — Individual study decks focused on a specific set of species.

Navigate through the library by selecting a category and drilling down into the group and subgroup that interests you. Each deck displays the number of cards it contains and the subscription tier required for access.

Your First Study Session

  1. Select a deck — Open any deck from the library.
  2. Begin reviewing — The system presents flashcards one at a time. Each card displays an image of a species.
  3. Attempt to identify — Before revealing the answer, try to recall the species name and any details you can.
  4. Reveal the answer — Flip the card to see the species name, taxonomy, and additional data fields.
  5. Rate your recall — Select one of four rating buttons to indicate how well you remembered the card.

The Four Rating Buttons

After revealing the answer on each card, you rate your recall using one of these options:

  • Again — You did not remember the card at all, or your answer was incorrect. The card will be shown again shortly within the same session.
  • Hard — You recalled the answer, but with significant difficulty or hesitation. The card will reappear sooner than normal.
  • Good — You recalled the answer correctly with reasonable confidence. The card advances on its normal schedule.
  • Easy — You recalled the answer immediately and without effort. The card's next review is scheduled further into the future.

Your rating directly controls how the scheduling algorithm handles each card. Honest self-assessment is essential for the system to work effectively.

Recommended Starting Approach

  • Study daily. Spaced repetition is most effective with consistent daily sessions. Even a brief session of 10 to 15 minutes is valuable.
  • Trust the schedule. The algorithm determines when each card should be reviewed. Resist the urge to cram or review cards ahead of schedule.
  • Be honest with your ratings. Rating cards as "Good" or "Easy" when you actually struggled will cause the system to schedule reviews too far apart, leading to forgotten material.