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Find out more from the
Center for Biological Diversity:
Species Finder
Treehugger.com, August 22, 2011

Android App Locates Endangered Species Wherever You Are
By Jaymi Heimbuch

This is one of those cool-yet-terribly-sad-it-exists apps. The Center for Biological Diversity has created an app for Android users that will tell you exactly which endangered species are living in the area you're standing in. On the one hand, it's amazing to know at any point in time which species are living in the area you're walking though, and especially interesting to know which endangered species are struggling to survive. It could be a way to stay aware of local ecology and how you can help with conservation efforts. However, it's of course a bummer that there's an app that will tell you all the species that are thiiiiis close to being found only in history books.

The free "Species Finder" Android app has over 1,000 plants and animals from the endangered species list in its database. Using your smartphone's GPS, the app generates a list of all the threatened and endangered species living in whichever county you're currently located in.

It could be a great app to have during road trips, so that as you pass through an area, you can get an idea for the ecology and which species in each area need help from conservationists.

Listed with each species is a link to more information about that particular plant or animal, as well as what can be done to help them.

"This unique app will bring people and endangered species closer together, allowing anyone with a Droid to discover biodiversity and wildlife in a new way," Peter Galvin, the Center's conservation director said in a press release. "Whether you're a kid with a passion for wildlife, a birdwatcher looking for rare birds, a natural history buff or just a tourist who wants to explore the local landscape, you'll be able to call up information about these extraordinary animals in a few keystrokes."

It's a great way to spark interest in helping save species on the brink -- as well as learn more about why those species are struggling in the first place.

© TreeHugger.com

This article originally appeared here.

Photo © Paul S. Hamilton