Catalogueoflife

Synonyms

synonyms

Read-onlyIdempotent

"What are the synonyms of [species]" / "old name for [organism]" / "alternative scientific names" — list synonyms (alternative or historical scientific names) currently mapped to a single Catalogue of Life accepted taxon. Use to map outdated taxonomy to current names.

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`id`	Yes
`dataset`	No

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`heterotypic`	No
`heterotypicGroups`	No

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed6 schema fields changedSep 24, 2026

changedInput schema / examples

Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "id": "7XCCF"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "id": "4CGXP"
+  }
+]

removedOutput schema / properties / count

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "Number of items returned.",
-  "type": "integer"
-}

addedOutput schema / properties / heterotypic

Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "properties": {
+      "created": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "createdBy": {
+        "type": "number"
+      },
+      "datasetKey": {
+        "type": "number"
+      },
+      "id": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "label": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "labelHtml": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "modified": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "modifiedBy": {
+        "type": "number"
+      },
+      "name": {
+        "properties": {
+          "authorship": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "basionymAuthorship": {
+            "properties": {
+              "authors": {
+                "items": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                "type": "array"
+              },
+              "year": {
+                "type": "string"
+              }
+            },
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          "code": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "combinationAuthorship": {
+            "properties": {
+              "authors": {
+                "items": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                "type": "array"
+              },
+              "year": {
+                "type": "string"
+              }
+            },
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          "created": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "createdBy": {
+            "type": "number"
+          },
+          "datasetKey": {
+            "type": "number"
+          },
+          "genus": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "id": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "infraspecificEpithet": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "link": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "modified": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "modifiedBy": {
+            "type": "number"
+          },
+          "namesIndexId": {
+            "type": "number"
+          },
+          "notho": {
+            "items": {},
+            "type": "array"
+          },
+          "origin": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "parsed": {
+            "type": "boolean"
+          },
+          "rank": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "remarks": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "scientificName": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "sectorKey": {
+            "type": "number"
+          },
+          "specificEpithet": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "type": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "verbatimSourceKey": {
+            "type": "number"
+          }
+        },
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "origin": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "parentId": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "sectorKey": {
+        "type": "number"
+      },
+      "status": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "verbatimSourceKey": {
+        "type": "number"
+      }
+    },
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}

addedOutput schema / properties / heterotypicGroups

Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "items": {
+      "properties": {
+        "created": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "createdBy": {
+          "type": "number"
+        },
+        "datasetKey": {
+          "type": "number"
+        },
+        "id": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "label": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "labelHtml": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "modified": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "modifiedBy": {
+          "type": "number"
+        },
+        "name": {
+          "properties": {
+            "authorship": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "basionymAuthorship": {
+              "properties": {
+                "authors": {
+                  "items": {
+                    "type": "string"
+                  },
+                  "type": "array"
+                },
+                "year": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                }
+              },
+              "type": "object"
+            },
+            "code": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "combinationAuthorship": {
+              "properties": {
+                "authors": {
+                  "items": {
+                    "type": "string"
+                  },
+                  "type": "array"
+                },
+                "year": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                }
+              },
+              "type": "object"
+            },
+            "created": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "createdBy": {
+              "type": "number"
+            },
+            "datasetKey": {
+              "type": "number"
+            },
+            "genus": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "id": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "infraspecificEpithet": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "link": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "modified": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "modifiedBy": {
+              "type": "number"
+            },
+            "namesIndexId": {
+              "type": "number"
+            },
+            "notho": {
+              "items": {},
+              "type": "array"
+            },
+            "origin": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "parsed": {
+              "type": "boolean"
+            },
+            "rank": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "remarks": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "scientificName": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "sectorKey": {
+              "type": "number"
+            },
+            "specificEpithet": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "type": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "verbatimSourceKey": {
+              "type": "number"
+            }
+          },
+          "type": "object"
+        },
+        "origin": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "parentId": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "sectorKey": {
+          "type": "number"
+        },
+        "status": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "verbatimSourceKey": {
+          "type": "number"
+        }
+      },
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "type": "array"
+  },
+  "type": "array"
+}

removedOutput schema / properties / items

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "Synonyms of a taxon",
-  "items": {
-    "type": "object"
-  },
-  "type": "array"
-}

removedOutput schema / required

Removed value: -[
-  "items",
-  "count"
-]

Changed2 schema fields changedMay 27, 2026

addedInput schema / examples

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "id": "7XCCF"
+  }
+]

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "count": {
+      "description": "Number of items returned.",
+      "type": "integer"
+    },
+    "items": {
+      "description": "Synonyms of a taxon",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "items",
+    "count"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

First observedMay 14, 2026

TDQS

A4.2/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true, openWorldHint=true, idempotentHint=true, and destructiveHint=false, so the safety profile is fully covered. The description adds useful behavioral context: it returns synonyms mapped to a single accepted taxon, and it handles historical/alternative names. It doesn't describe pagination or result limits, but with a rich output schema present and annotations covering safety, this is a minor gap.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is compact and front-loaded with natural-language query examples, followed by a precise definition and a use case. Every sentence earns its place: the examples make intent instantly clear, the definition adds precision, and the use case tells the agent when to apply it. No wasted words.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a read-only lookup tool with a rich output schema and full annotation coverage, the description is nearly complete. It explains what the tool returns, how it relates to Catalogue of Life taxonomy, and when to use it. The only missing piece is explicit guidance on the 'dataset' parameter, which is a minor gap given the tool's simplicity and the presence of an output schema.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate. The description explains the purpose of the 'id' parameter implicitly (the taxon whose synonyms are requested) but doesn't explicitly describe the 'dataset' parameter or its allowed values. The examples show an id format ('4CGXP') but not a dataset example. Baseline 3 is appropriate because the description adds some meaning but leaves the dataset parameter undocumented.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description opens with concrete query examples ('What are the synonyms of [species]', 'old name for [organism]') and then states the exact function: list synonyms (alternative or historical scientific names) mapped to a single Catalogue of Life accepted taxon. This clearly distinguishes it from sibling tools like 'vernacular' (common names) and 'taxon' (taxonomy lookup).

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description explicitly says to use it 'to map outdated taxonomy to current names', which gives a clear when-to-use signal. It doesn't explicitly name alternatives or exclusions, but the query examples and the phrase 'currently mapped to a single Catalogue of Life accepted taxon' imply the scope. Sibling names like 'vernacular' and 'taxon' are contextually distinct enough that an agent can infer when not to use this tool.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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