diff --git a/maintenance/ensembl.py b/maintenance/ensembl.py
index 9ea3b1e76..4ff4ec417 100644
--- a/maintenance/ensembl.py
+++ b/maintenance/ensembl.py
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 import urllib.request
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger("ensembl")
+
+
 class EnsemblRestClient:
     """
     A client for the Ensembl REST API. Based on the example code
@@ -46,7 +49,7 @@ def _sleep_if_needed(self):
         if self.num_requests >= self.max_requests_per_second:
             delta = time.time() - self.last_request_time
             if delta < 1:
-                logging.debug("Rate limiting REST API")
+                logger.info("Rate limiting REST API")
                 time.sleep(1 - delta)
             self.num_requests = 0
         else:
@@ -61,9 +64,10 @@ def get(self, endpoint, headers=None, params=None):
         """
         self._sleep_if_needed()
         request = self._make_request(endpoint, headers, params)
-        logging.debug("making request to %s", request.full_url)
+        logger.info("making request to %s", request.full_url)
         response = urllib.request.urlopen(request)
         content = response.read()
+        logger.debug("Response: %s", content)
         data = json.loads(content)
         return data
 
@@ -78,6 +82,13 @@ def get_release(self):
         assert len(releases) == 1
         return releases[0]
 
+    def get_species_data(self, ensembl_id):
+        """
+        Returns species information for the specified ensembl_id.
+        """
+        output = self.get(endpoint=f"/info/genomes/{ensembl_id}")
+        return output
+
     def get_genome_data(self, ensembl_id):
         """
         Returns the genome data for the specified Ensembl species
diff --git a/maintenance/main.py b/maintenance/main.py
index 92e13e23b..95638f422 100644
--- a/maintenance/main.py
+++ b/maintenance/main.py
@@ -7,49 +7,82 @@
 import shutil
 import string
 import pathlib
+import logging
 
 import click
 import black
+import daiquiri
 
 import stdpopsim
 from . import ensembl
 
+logger = logging.getLogger("maint")
+
 species_template = string.Template(
     """
 import stdpopsim
 
 from . import genome_data
 
-_chromosomes = []
-for name, data in genome_data.data["chromosomes"].items():
-    _chromosomes.append(
-        stdpopsim.Chromosome(
-            id=name,
-            length=data["length"],
-            synonyms=data["synonyms"],
-            mutation_rate=0,  # FILL ME IN
-            recombination_rate=0,  # FILL ME IN
-        )
-    )
-
-_genome = stdpopsim.Genome(
-    chromosomes=_chromosomes,
-    mutation_rate_citations=[], # ADD CITATIONS
-    recombination_rate_citations=[],  # ADD CITATIONS
-    assembly_name=genome_data.data["assembly_name"],
-    assembly_accession=genome_data.data["assembly_accession"],
-    assembly_citations=[],
+# [The following are notes for implementers and should be deleted
+#  once the recombination rates have been inserted]
+# This is the per-chromosome recombination rate, typically the mean
+# rate along the chromosome.
+# Values in this dictionary are set to -1 by default, so you have
+# to update each one. These should be derived from the most reliable
+# data and how they were obtained should be documented here.
+# The appropriate citation must be added to the list of
+# recombination_rate_citations in the Genome object.
+
+_recombination_rate = $chromosome_rate_dict
+
+# [The following are notes for implementers and should be deleted
+#  once the mutation rates have been inserted]
+# This is the per-chromosome mutation rate, typically the mean
+# rate along the chromosome. If per chromosome rates are not available,
+# the same value should be used for each chromosome. In this case,
+# please use a variable to store this value, rather than repeating
+# the same numerical constant, e.g.
+# _mutation_rate = {
+#    1: _overall_rate,
+#    2: _overall_rate,
+#    ...
+# Values in this dictionary are set to -1 by default, so you have
+# to update each one. These should be derived from the most reliable
+# data and how they were obtained should be documented here.
+# The appropriate citation must be added to the list of
+# mutation_rate_citations in the Genome object.
+
+_mutation_rate = $chromosome_rate_dict
+
+_genome = stdpopsim.Genome.from_data(
+    genome_data.data,
+    recombination_rate=_recombination_rate,
+    mutation_rate=_mutation_rate
 )
 
+# [Implementers: you must add citations for the values that are
+# provided. Do this like:
+# _genome.recombination_rate_citations.append(
+#    stdpopsim.Citation(author=x, date=y, doi=z))
+# _genome.mutation_rate_citations.append(
+#    stdpopsim.Citation(author=x, date=y, doi=z))
+
 _species = stdpopsim.Species(
     id="$sps_id",
-    name="FIXME",
-    common_name="FIXME",
+    ensembl_id="$ensembl_id",
+    name="$scientific_name",
+    common_name="$common_name",
     genome=_genome,
-    generation_time=0,  # FIXME
-    generation_time_citations=[],
-    population_size=0,  # FIXME
+    # [Implementers: you must provide an estimate of the generation_time.
+    # Please also add a citation for this.]
+    generation_time=0,
+    # [Implementers: you must provide an estimate of the population size.
+    # TODO: give a definition of what this should be.
+    # Please also add a citation for this.]
+    population_size=0,
     population_size_citations=[],
+    generation_time_citations=[],
 )
 
 stdpopsim.register_species(_species)
@@ -58,20 +91,54 @@
 
 species_test_template = string.Template(
     """
+import pytest
+
 import stdpopsim
 from tests import test_species
 
 
-class TestSpecies(test_species.SpeciesTestBase):
+class TestSpeciesData(test_species.SpeciesTestBase):
 
     species = stdpopsim.get_species("$sps_id")
 
-    # TODO specific tests for species data.
+    def test_ensembl_id(self):
+        assert self.species.ensembl_id == "$ensembl_id"
 
-class TestGenome(test_species.GenomeTestBase):
+    def test_name(self):
+        assert self.species.name == "$scientific_name"
+
+    def test_common_name(self):
+        assert self.species.common_name == "$common_name"
+
+    # QC Tests. These tests are performed by another contributor
+    # independently referring to the citations provided in the
+    # species definition, filling in the appropriate values
+    # and deleting the pytest "skip" annotations.
+    @pytest.mark.skip("Population size QC not done yet")
+    def test_qc_population_size(self):
+        assert self.species.population_size == -1
+
+    @pytest.mark.skip("Generation time QC not done yet")
+    def test_qc_generation_time(self):
+        assert self.species.generation_time == -1
+
+class TestGenomeData(test_species.GenomeTestBase):
 
     genome = stdpopsim.get_species("$sps_id").genome
 
+    @pytest.mark.skip("Recombination rate QC not done yet")
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ["name", "rate"],
+        $chromosome_rate_dict.items())
+    def test_recombination_rate(self, name, rate):
+        assert pytest.approx(rate, self.genome.get_chromosome(name).recombination_rate)
+
+    @pytest.mark.skip("Mutation rate QC not done yet")
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ["name", "rate"],
+        $chromosome_rate_dict.items())
+    def test_mutation_rate(self, name, rate):
+        assert pytest.approx(rate, self.genome.get_chromosome(name).mutation_rate)
 """
 )
 
@@ -92,7 +159,7 @@ def catalog_path(sps_id):
     return pathlib.Path(f"stdpopsim/catalog/{sps_id}")
 
 
-def write_catalog_stub(path, sps_id, ensembl_id):
+def write_catalog_stub(*, path, sps_id, ensembl_id, species_data, genome_data):
     """
     Writes stub files to the catalog for a new species.
     """
@@ -102,15 +169,32 @@ def write_catalog_stub(path, sps_id, ensembl_id):
         print('"""', file=f)
         print("from . import species  # noqa: F401", file=f)
 
-    species_code = species_template.substitute(sps_id=sps_id)
+    scientific_name = species_data["scientific_name"]
+    common_name = species_data["display_name"]
+    logger.info(f"{sps_id}: name={scientific_name}, common_name={common_name}")
+    chr_names = genome_data["chromosomes"].keys()
+    chromosome_rate_template = {name: -1 for name in chr_names}
+    species_code = species_template.substitute(
+        ensembl_id=ensembl_id,
+        sps_id=sps_id,
+        scientific_name=scientific_name,
+        common_name=common_name,
+        chromosome_rate_dict=chromosome_rate_template,
+    )
     path = path / "species.py"
-    click.echo(f"Writing species definition stub to {path}")
+    logger.info(f"Writing species definition stub to {path}")
     with open(path, "w") as f:
         f.write(black_format(species_code))
 
-    test_code = species_test_template.substitute(sps_id=sps_id)
+    test_code = species_test_template.substitute(
+        ensembl_id=ensembl_id,
+        sps_id=sps_id,
+        scientific_name=scientific_name,
+        common_name=common_name,
+        chromosome_rate_dict=chromosome_rate_template,
+    )
     test_path = pathlib.Path("tests") / f"test_{sps_id}.py"
-    click.echo(f"Writing species test stub to {test_path}")
+    logger.info(f"Writing species test stub to {test_path}")
     with open(test_path, "w") as f:
         f.write(black_format(test_code))
 
@@ -132,13 +216,20 @@ def write(self, path):
 
     def add_species(self, ensembl_id, force=False):
         sps_id = ensembl_stdpopsim_id(ensembl_id)
-        click.echo(f"Adding new species {sps_id} for Ensembl ID {ensembl_id}")
+        logger.info(f"Adding new species {sps_id} for Ensembl ID {ensembl_id}")
         root = catalog_path(sps_id)
         if force:
             shutil.rmtree(root, ignore_errors=True)
         root.mkdir()
-        self.write_genome_data(ensembl_id)
-        write_catalog_stub(root, sps_id, ensembl_id)
+        genome_data = self.write_genome_data(ensembl_id)
+        species_data = self.ensembl_client.get_species_data(ensembl_id)
+        write_catalog_stub(
+            path=root,
+            sps_id=sps_id,
+            ensembl_id=ensembl_id,
+            species_data=species_data,
+            genome_data=genome_data,
+        )
 
     def write_genome_data(self, ensembl_id):
         sps_id = ensembl_stdpopsim_id(ensembl_id)
@@ -147,7 +238,7 @@ def write_genome_data(self, ensembl_id):
             raise ValueError(
                 f"Directory {id} corresponding to {ensembl_id} does" + "not exist"
             )
-        click.echo(f"Writing genome data for {sps_id} {ensembl_id}")
+        logger.info(f"Writing genome data for {sps_id} {ensembl_id}")
         path = path / "genome_data.py"
         data = self.ensembl_client.get_genome_data(ensembl_id)
         code = f"data = {data}"
@@ -155,10 +246,11 @@ def write_genome_data(self, ensembl_id):
         # Format the code with Black so we don't get noisy diffs
         with self.write(path) as f:
             f.write(black_format(code))
+        return data
 
     def write_ensembl_release(self):
         release = self.ensembl_client.get_release()
-        click.echo(f"Using Ensembl release {release}")
+        logger.info(f"Using Ensembl release {release}")
         path = pathlib.Path("stdpopsim/catalog/ensembl_info.py")
         code = f"release = {release}"
         with self.write(path) as f:
@@ -171,8 +263,16 @@ def write_ensembl_release(self):
 
 
 @click.group()
-def cli():
-    pass
+@click.option("--debug", is_flag=True)
+def cli(debug):
+    log_level = logging.INFO
+    if debug:
+        log_level = logging.DEBUG
+    daiquiri.setup(level=log_level)
+
+    # Black's logging is very noisy
+    black_logger = logging.getLogger("blib2to3")
+    black_logger.setLevel(logging.CRITICAL)
 
 
 @cli.command()
@@ -215,7 +315,7 @@ def add_species(ensembl_id, force):
     Add a new species to the catalog using its ensembl ID.
     """
     writer = DataWriter()
-    writer.add_species(ensembl_id, force=force)
+    writer.add_species(ensembl_id.lower(), force=force)
     writer.write_ensembl_release()
 
 
diff --git a/stdpopsim/catalog/AraTha/species.py b/stdpopsim/catalog/AraTha/species.py
index 561ac28dc..9f1b98d8c 100644
--- a/stdpopsim/catalog/AraTha/species.py
+++ b/stdpopsim/catalog/AraTha/species.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
     mutation_rate_citations=[
         stdpopsim.Citation(
             author="Ossowski et al.",
-            year="2010",
+            year=2010,
             doi="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1180677",
             reasons={stdpopsim.CiteReason.MUT_RATE},
         )
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     recombination_rate_citations=[
         stdpopsim.Citation(
             author="Huber et al.",
-            year="2014",
+            year=2014,
             doi="https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msu247",
             reasons={stdpopsim.CiteReason.REC_RATE},
         )
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
     assembly_citations=[
         stdpopsim.Citation(
             doi="https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkm965",
-            year="2007",
+            year=2007,
             author="Swarbreck et al.",
             reasons={stdpopsim.CiteReason.ASSEMBLY},
         )
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 
 _species = stdpopsim.Species(
     id="AraTha",
+    ensembl_id="arabidopsis_thaliana",
     name="Arabidopsis thaliana",
     common_name="A. thaliana",
     genome=_genome,
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@
     generation_time_citations=[
         stdpopsim.Citation(
             doi="https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(2002)083[1006:GTINSO]2.0.CO;2",
-            year="2002",
+            year=2002,
             author="Donohue",
             reasons={stdpopsim.CiteReason.GEN_TIME},
         )
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@
     population_size_citations=[
         stdpopsim.Citation(
             doi="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2016.05.063",
-            year="2016",
+            year=2016,
             author="1001GenomesConsortium",
             reasons={stdpopsim.CiteReason.POP_SIZE},
         )
diff --git a/stdpopsim/catalog/BosTau/species.py b/stdpopsim/catalog/BosTau/species.py
index 609de15b5..8f342885b 100644
--- a/stdpopsim/catalog/BosTau/species.py
+++ b/stdpopsim/catalog/BosTau/species.py
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@
 
 _species = stdpopsim.Species(
     id="BosTau",
+    ensembl_id="bos_taurus",
     name="Bos Taurus",
     common_name="Cattle",
     genome=_genome,
diff --git a/stdpopsim/catalog/CanFam/species.py b/stdpopsim/catalog/CanFam/species.py
index ddea23514..4128b7400 100644
--- a/stdpopsim/catalog/CanFam/species.py
+++ b/stdpopsim/catalog/CanFam/species.py
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@
 
 _species = stdpopsim.Species(
     id="CanFam",
+    ensembl_id="canis_familiaris",
     name="Canis familiaris",
     common_name="Dog",
     genome=_genome,
diff --git a/stdpopsim/catalog/DroMel/species.py b/stdpopsim/catalog/DroMel/species.py
index ecc501397..8aa818e79 100644
--- a/stdpopsim/catalog/DroMel/species.py
+++ b/stdpopsim/catalog/DroMel/species.py
@@ -3,11 +3,6 @@
 import stdpopsim
 from . import genome_data
 
-###########################################################
-#
-# Genome definition
-#
-###########################################################
 
 _LiAndStephan = stdpopsim.Citation(
     author="Li et al.", year=2006, doi="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.0020166"
@@ -21,7 +16,7 @@
 
 _DosSantosEtAl = stdpopsim.Citation(
     doi="https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gku1099",
-    year="2015",
+    year=2015,
     author="dos Santos et al.",
     reasons={stdpopsim.CiteReason.ASSEMBLY},
 )
@@ -56,6 +51,7 @@
 
 _species = stdpopsim.Species(
     id="DroMel",
+    ensembl_id="drosophila_melanogaster",
     name="Drosophila melanogaster",
     common_name="D. melanogaster",
     genome=_genome,
diff --git a/stdpopsim/catalog/EscCol/species.py b/stdpopsim/catalog/EscCol/species.py
index 91e14108d..261a19d53 100644
--- a/stdpopsim/catalog/EscCol/species.py
+++ b/stdpopsim/catalog/EscCol/species.py
@@ -1,29 +1,25 @@
 import stdpopsim
 from . import genome_data
 
-###########################################################
-#
-# Genome definition
-#
-###########################################################
-
 _hartl_et_al = stdpopsim.Citation(
     author="Hartl, Moriyama, and Sawyer",
-    year="1994",
+    year=1994,
     # doesn't have a doi
     doi="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1206133/",
 )
 
 _sezonov_et_al = stdpopsim.Citation(
-    author="Sezonov et al.", year="2007", doi="https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.01368-07"
+    author="Sezonov et al.", year=2007, doi="https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.01368-07"
 )
 
 _wielgoss_et_al = stdpopsim.Citation(
-    author="Wielgoss et al.", year="2011", doi="https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.111.000406"
+    author="Wielgoss et al.", year=2011, doi="https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.111.000406"
 )
 
 _blattner_et_al = stdpopsim.Citation(
-    author="Blattner et al.", year="1997", doi="10.1126/science.277.5331.1453"
+    author="Blattner et al.",
+    year=1997,
+    doi="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.277.5331.1453",
 )
 
 _chromosomes = []
diff --git a/stdpopsim/catalog/HomSap/species.py b/stdpopsim/catalog/HomSap/species.py
index 23cade97e..f8d4f5007 100644
--- a/stdpopsim/catalog/HomSap/species.py
+++ b/stdpopsim/catalog/HomSap/species.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 
 _genome2001 = stdpopsim.Citation(
     doi="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/35057062",
-    year="2001",
+    year=2001,
     author="International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium",
     reasons={stdpopsim.CiteReason.ASSEMBLY},
 )
@@ -46,21 +46,21 @@
 
 _takahata1993 = stdpopsim.Citation(
     doi="https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a039995",
-    year="1993",
+    year=1993,
     author="Takahata",
     reasons={stdpopsim.CiteReason.POP_SIZE},
 )
 
 _tian2019 = stdpopsim.Citation(
     doi="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.09.012",
-    year="2019",
+    year=2019,
     author="Tian, Browning, and Browning",
     reasons={stdpopsim.CiteReason.MUT_RATE},
 )
 
 _tremblay2000 = stdpopsim.Citation(
     doi="https://doi.org/10.1086/302770",
-    year="2000",
+    year=2000,
     author="Tremblay and Vézina",
     reasons={stdpopsim.CiteReason.GEN_TIME},
 )
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@
 
 _species = stdpopsim.Species(
     id="HomSap",
+    ensembl_id="homo_sapiens",
     name="Homo sapiens",
     common_name="Human",
     genome=_genome,
diff --git a/stdpopsim/catalog/PonAbe/species.py b/stdpopsim/catalog/PonAbe/species.py
index 3c80bc528..b754fc460 100644
--- a/stdpopsim/catalog/PonAbe/species.py
+++ b/stdpopsim/catalog/PonAbe/species.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
 
 _species = stdpopsim.Species(
     id="PonAbe",
+    ensembl_id="pongo_abelii",
     name="Pongo abelii",
     common_name="Sumatran orangutan",
     genome=_genome,
diff --git a/stdpopsim/citations.py b/stdpopsim/citations.py
index 244a44f86..28da77810 100644
--- a/stdpopsim/citations.py
+++ b/stdpopsim/citations.py
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 import attr
 
 
+# TODO this should be an enum.Enum
+
+
 class CiteReason:
     ENGINE = "simulation engine"
     DEM_MODEL = "demographic model"
@@ -75,6 +78,23 @@ def merge(citations):
             cset[citation.doi] = citation
         return list(cset.values())
 
+    def assert_valid(self):
+        """
+        Checks that this citation is valid by checking the types and values
+        of the instance variables.
+        """
+        assert isinstance(self.author, str)
+        assert len(self.author) > 0
+        assert isinstance(self.doi, str)
+        assert len(self.doi) > 0
+        parsed = urllib.parse.urlparse(self.doi)
+        assert parsed.scheme.startswith("http")
+        assert isinstance(self.year, int)
+        assert self.year > 0
+        for reason in self.reasons:
+            assert isinstance(reason, str)
+            # TODO check that it's in the set of accepted reasons.
+
     def fetch_bibtex(self):
         """Retrieve the bibtex of a citation from Crossref."""
         req = urllib.request.Request(self.doi)
diff --git a/stdpopsim/genomes.py b/stdpopsim/genomes.py
index 15186a275..14c1529fd 100644
--- a/stdpopsim/genomes.py
+++ b/stdpopsim/genomes.py
@@ -25,13 +25,45 @@ class Genome:
     """
 
     chromosomes = attr.ib(factory=list)
-    mutation_rate_citations = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
-    recombination_rate_citations = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
-    assembly_citations = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
     assembly_name = attr.ib(default=None, kw_only=True)
     assembly_accession = attr.ib(default=None, kw_only=True)
     length = attr.ib(default=0, init=False)
 
+    # TODO these should all be combined into a single "citations" attr,
+    # since we already have a "reason" attribute in Citation.
+    mutation_rate_citations = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
+    recombination_rate_citations = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
+    assembly_citations = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def from_data(genome_data, *, recombination_rate, mutation_rate):
+        """
+        Construct a Genome object from the specified dictionary of
+        genome information from Ensembl, recombination_rate and
+        mutation_rate dictionaries.
+
+        This method is for internal use only.
+        """
+        chr_names = set(genome_data["chromosomes"].keys())
+        assert set(recombination_rate.keys()) == chr_names
+        assert set(mutation_rate.keys()) == chr_names
+        chromosomes = []
+        for name, data in genome_data["chromosomes"].items():
+            chromosomes.append(
+                Chromosome(
+                    id=name,
+                    length=data["length"],
+                    synonyms=data["synonyms"],
+                    mutation_rate=mutation_rate[name],
+                    recombination_rate=recombination_rate[name],
+                )
+            )
+        return Genome(
+            chromosomes=chromosomes,
+            assembly_name=genome_data["assembly_name"],
+            assembly_accession=genome_data["assembly_accession"],
+        )
+
     def __attrs_post_init__(self):
         for chromosome in self.chromosomes:
             self.length += chromosome.length
diff --git a/stdpopsim/species.py b/stdpopsim/species.py
index ea0516323..745045713 100644
--- a/stdpopsim/species.py
+++ b/stdpopsim/species.py
@@ -121,11 +121,8 @@ class Species:
     :ivar demographic_models: This list of :class:`DemographicModel`
         instances in the catalog for this species.
     :vartype demographic_models: list
-    :ivar ensembl_id: The ensembl id for the species' genome assembly,
-        which will be used by maintenance scripts to query ensembl's database.
-        This parameter will be automatically populated from the species name,
-        and should not be set directly unless a non-default assembly is used
-        for the species definition (e.g. see E. coli).
+    :ivar ensembl_id: The ensembl id for the species which is used by
+        maintenance scripts to query ensembl's database.
     :vartype ensembl_id: str
     """
 
@@ -133,26 +130,22 @@ class Species:
     name = attr.ib(type=str, kw_only=True)
     common_name = attr.ib(type=str, kw_only=True)
     genome = attr.ib(type=int, kw_only=True)
-    generation_time = attr.ib(default=1, kw_only=True)
-    generation_time_citations = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
-    population_size = attr.ib(default=1, kw_only=True)
-    population_size_citations = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
+    generation_time = attr.ib(default=0, kw_only=True)
+    population_size = attr.ib(default=0, kw_only=True)
     demographic_models = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
     ensembl_id = attr.ib(type=str, kw_only=True)
+
+    # TODO these should be combined into a single "citations" list.
+    # We have a citation.reasons argument which should be sufficient.
+    generation_time_citations = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
+    population_size_citations = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
+
     # A list of genetic maps. This is undocumented as the parameter is not
     # intended to be used when the Species is initialsed.
     # Use add_genetic_map() instead.
     genetic_maps = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
     annotations = attr.ib(factory=list, kw_only=True)
 
-    @ensembl_id.default
-    def _default_ensembl_id(self):
-        """
-        Returns the ID of this species for the Ensembl REST API.
-        This is the species name, underscore delimited and in lowercase.
-        """
-        return self.name.lower().replace(" ", "_")
-
     def get_contig(
         self,
         chromosome=None,
diff --git a/tests/test_HomSap.py b/tests/test_HomSap.py
index 2e769bf8b..2a19ec8a6 100644
--- a/tests/test_HomSap.py
+++ b/tests/test_HomSap.py
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ def test_basic_attributes(self):
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("chr_id", [chrom.id for chrom in genome.chromosomes])
     def test_recombination_rates(self, chr_id):
+        # We should recast this test and just hard code in the values.
+        # Tests should be *obvious* not clever.
+
         # recompute recombination rates from HapMapII_GRCh37 map then
         # compare the results to the current recombination rates for each chromosome
         genetic_map = "HapMapII_GRCh37"
diff --git a/tests/test_annotations.py b/tests/test_annotations.py
index c7ef20b6d..2d35cffa2 100644
--- a/tests/test_annotations.py
+++ b/tests/test_annotations.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         genome = stdpopsim.Genome(chromosomes=[])
         _species = stdpopsim.Species(
             id="TesSpe",
+            ensembl_id="test_species",
             name="Test species",
             common_name="Testy McTestface",
             genome=genome,
diff --git a/tests/test_genetic_maps.py b/tests/test_genetic_maps.py
index c17b6b5ec..87e5cb808 100644
--- a/tests/test_genetic_maps.py
+++ b/tests/test_genetic_maps.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         genome = stdpopsim.Genome(chromosomes=[])
         _species = stdpopsim.Species(
             id="TesSpe",
+            ensembl_id="test_species",
             name="Test species",
             common_name="Testy McTestface",
             genome=genome,
diff --git a/tests/test_species.py b/tests/test_species.py
index 7b3e246aa..76fee5f16 100644
--- a/tests/test_species.py
+++ b/tests/test_species.py
@@ -104,14 +104,38 @@ def test_id(self):
         assert isinstance(self.species.id, str)
         assert utils.is_valid_species_id(self.species.id)
 
-    def test_name(self):
+    def test_name_basics(self):
         assert isinstance(self.species.name, str)
         assert utils.is_valid_species_name(self.species.name)
 
-    def test_common_name(self):
+    def test_common_name_basics(self):
         assert isinstance(self.species.common_name, str)
         assert utils.is_valid_species_common_name(self.species.name)
 
+    def test_genome_type(self):
+        assert isinstance(self.species.genome, stdpopsim.Genome)
+
+    def test_demographic_model_types(self):
+        assert isinstance(self.species.demographic_models, list)
+        for model in self.species.demographic_models:
+            assert isinstance(model, stdpopsim.DemographicModel)
+
+    def test_citation_properties(self):
+        all_citations = (
+            self.species.generation_time_citations
+            + self.species.population_size_citations
+        )
+        for citation in all_citations:
+            # Test some basic stuff about the citations.
+            assert isinstance(citation, stdpopsim.Citation)
+            citation.assert_valid()
+
+    def test_generation_time_defined(self):
+        assert self.species.generation_time > 0
+
+    def test_population_size_defined(self):
+        assert self.species.population_size > 0
+
 
 class GenomeTestBase:
     """
@@ -153,6 +177,30 @@ def test_mean_mutation_rate(self):
             assert mean_genome_mr >= lowest_mr
             assert highest_mr >= mean_genome_mr
 
+    def test_chromosomes(self):
+        assert len(self.genome.chromosomes) > 0
+        for chrom in self.genome.chromosomes:
+            assert isinstance(chrom, stdpopsim.Chromosome)
+
+    def test_mutation_rates_set(self):
+        for chrom in self.genome.chromosomes:
+            assert chrom.mutation_rate >= 0
+
+    def test_recombination_rates_set(self):
+        for chrom in self.genome.chromosomes:
+            assert chrom.recombination_rate >= 0
+
+    def test_citation_properties(self):
+        all_citations = (
+            self.genome.mutation_rate_citations
+            + self.genome.recombination_rate_citations
+            + self.genome.assembly_citations
+        )
+        for citation in all_citations:
+            # Test some basic stuff about the citations.
+            assert isinstance(citation, stdpopsim.Citation)
+            citation.assert_valid()
+
 
 class TestAllGenomes(unittest.TestCase):
     """