• An authoritative species list for all major phyla of flora and fauna
• A comprehensive list with standardized classification and common synonyms
• Includes diatoms, dinoflagellates, marine algae, protists, most invertebrate groups, fishes, shore birds, reptiles, and marine mammals.

Also included for each species are the scientific authority, synonyms (those found in the literature used for this project, which are not inclusive), common names, ITIS taxonomic serial number when available, whether reviewed by ITIS, whether included in ITIS database, range and concentrations (chiefly in Atlantic waters), habitat, mode of life describing whether a species is planktonic, nektonic, benthic, or restricted to the intertidal zone, and references cited.