LAUSR

An interactive (multi-access) global identification key (OncIdent) has been developed for the pelagic marine microcopepod family Oncaeidae and made accessible online. Details of the general approach and development of the key are given in Böttger-Schnack and Schnack (J Nat Hist 49:2727–2741, 2015). After beta-testing, new additions include illustrations for all species and feature attributes considered, plus a textual summary of each species’ feature states in the key. Additional taxonomic notes are given where required, highlighting morphological or molecular genetic peculiarities or problems, with links to large data bases leading directly to more comprehensive information about each species. The present paper briefly reviews the taxonomic background for key construction, summarizes the opportunities and limitations of the current online version OncIdent2.0, and provides guidance for its practical use.