diff --git a/database.db b/database.db
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/database/db_commands.py b/database/db_commands.py
index 7b2a480..8f58f15 100644
--- a/database/db_commands.py
+++ b/database/db_commands.py
@@ -4,19 +4,22 @@ from database.db_connection import get_db
 
 def add_species(english, latin, body, category, extinction_risk, image_id):
     with get_db() as conn:
-        conn.execute("""
-            INSERT INTO species (
-                species_english,
-                species_latin,
-                body_text,
-                category,
-                extinction_risk,
-                created_at,
-                photoid
+        try:
+            conn.execute("""
+                INSERT INTO species (
+                    species_english,
+                    species_latin,
+                    body_text,
+                    category,
+                    extinction_risk,
+                    created_at,
+                    photoid
                 
-            )
-            VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
-        """, (english, latin.lower(), body, category, extinction_risk, datetime.now(), image_id))
+                )
+                VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+            """, (english.title(), latin.lower(), body, category, extinction_risk, datetime.now(), image_id))
+        except:
+            raise ValueError("This species already exists in the database, would you like to edit it?")
 
 
 def get_all_species():
@@ -48,16 +51,6 @@ WHERE
         ).fetchall()
         return [dict(row) for row in rows]
 
-
-def get_species_by_name(species_english):
-    with get_db() as conn:
-        row = conn.execute(
-            "SELECT * FROM species WHERE species_english = ?",
-            (species_english,)
-        ).fetchone()
-        return dict(row) if row else None
-
-
 def delete_species(species_id):
     with get_db() as conn:
         conn.execute(
diff --git a/database/db_init.py b/database/db_init.py
index 976d6df..c6ed40e 100644
--- a/database/db_init.py
+++ b/database/db_init.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def init_database():
         conn.execute("""
         CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS species (
             species_id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
-            species_english TEXT,
+            species_english TEXT UNIQUE,
             species_latin TEXT,
             body_text TEXT,
             category TEXT,
diff --git a/database/example_database.db b/database/example_database.db
index 55caf13..9e2ab29 100644
Binary files a/database/example_database.db and b/database/example_database.db differ
diff --git a/routes/species_portal/species_portal.py b/routes/species_portal/species_portal.py
index b45ebb2..caddcff 100644
--- a/routes/species_portal/species_portal.py
+++ b/routes/species_portal/species_portal.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def portal():
 @page.route("/", methods=["POST"])
 def add_species_to_database():
     try:
-        eng_name        = request.form["eng_name"].capitalize()
+        eng_name        = request.form["eng_name"].title()
         latin_name      = request.form["latin_name"].capitalize()
         main_text       = request.form["main_text"]
         category        = request.form["category"].capitalize()
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ def add_species_to_database():
             "species_portal/species_portal_failed.jinja",
             error_information=error_information
             )
+        
+# now add editing functionality
 
 
 @page.route("/delete/<species_english>", methods=["POST"])