(n): animal or plant group having natural relations
(n): a specific kind of something
(n): a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
(n): coins collectively
(n): the metal or paper medium of exchange that is presently used
actually, the OED specifies only two variants: /'spiËʃiËz/ and /'spiËʃɪiËz/ — that is, not a "speesees" in sight!
When spechifying spechific, spechious spechimens, it can be espechially helpful to regard the lack of 'h' in the word 'species'. Unless, of course, you do your research in Yiddish. :)