def get_listOfSpecies(model):
    """
    return list of species of a SBML model
    """
    listOfSpecies = None
    for e in model:
        if e.tag[0] == '{':
            uri, tag = e.tag[1:].split('}')
        else:
            tag = e.tag
        if tag == 'listOfSpecies':
            listOfSpecies = e
            break
    return listOfSpecies
