Species identification services

for biological samples of policy concern

using morphological techniques and
advanced DNA-based methods

Bipalium_kewense_By Jean-Lou Justine​, Leigh Winsor, Delphine Gey, Pierre Gros, and Jessica Thévenot - (2018). "Giant worms chez moi! Hammerhead flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae, Bipalium spp., Diversibipalium spp.) in metropolitan France and overseas French territories". PeerJ 6: e4672. DOI:10.7717/peerj.4672. ISSN 2167-8359., CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69500946

On demand species identification

Our species identification services cater to a diverse range of stakeholders, including governments and agencies at the national, regional and local level, as well as research institutions, NGOs, private companies, nature conservation and citizen science initiatives, and the general public.

Wide range of organisms

We have experience with the identification of numerous species from various taxonomic groups, including birds, mammals, amphibians, fish, crustaceans, insects, flatworms, etc.

Various tissue types

Whether you have fresh, frozen or processed tissue samples, organisms preserved on alcohol, blood or saliva swabs, feathers or hairs, we tailor our methods to obtain optimal results for all sample types.

Diverse policy concerns

Our identifications are used to address societal needs such as the enforcement of animal and plant trade regulations, the prevention of infectious disease outbreaks, the verification of the food chain, etc.

State of the art methodology

BopCo has access to an extensive research infrastructure and a comprehensive taxonomic expertise. We aim to continuously explore and implement new species identification tools.

Morphological laboratory

  • Stereo microscopy
  • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
  • µCT scanners
  • Taxonomic experts
  • Reference collections comprising millions of specimens

Molecular laboratory

  • Various DNA extraction protocols
  • Sanger sequencing
  • Next Generation Sequencing
  • qPCR assays
  • eDNA analysis

Submit a species

identification request