The methods, data and background information on ivory identification compiled in this handbook are the result of forensic research conducted by the United States National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, located in Ashland, Oregon. The goal of the research was to develop a visual and non-destructive means of tentatively distinguishing clearly legal ivory from suspected illegal ivory at ports of entry. As such, it was necessary that the methods be 1) simple to perform, and 2) not require the use of sophisticated scientific instruments. In this regard, we were successful. In reviewing the text, you will notice that we did not include detailed classical morphology data on whole tusks or teeth; mostly because the whole structures are fairly easy to identify but also because it is impossible to anticipate which portion of a tusk or tooth will be used for any specific carving. Instead, we chose to focus our attention on the 'species determining; characteristics of the ivory material itself. The result is a handbook designed to offer wildlife law enforcement officers, scientists and managers a tentative visual means of distinguishing legal from illegal ivory, and a probable cause justification for seizure of the suspected illegal material. One point which must be emphasized: while the methods described in this handbook are reliable for the purposes described (i.e. : tentative visual identification, and probable cause to seize as evidence), an examination of the carved ivory object by a trained scientist is still necessary to obtain a positive identification of the species source.