Gbif

Get Species

get_species

Read-onlyIdempotent

Get complete taxonomic classification for a species (kingdom through subspecies). Requires taxon key from search_species. Returns all ranks and accepted name status.

Example tool call

This call uses example arguments supplied in the tool’s input schema.

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "arguments": {
      "key": 2436436
    },
    "name": "get_species"
  }
}

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`key`	Yes	GBIF taxon key (integer)

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description
`key`	Yes	GBIF taxon key identifier
`rank`	Yes	Taxonomic rank
`class`	Yes	Class classification
`genus`	Yes	Genus classification
`order`	Yes	Order classification
`family`	Yes	Family classification
`marine`	Yes	Whether species occurs in marine environments
`phylum`	Yes	Phylum classification
`extinct`	Yes	Whether species is extinct
`kingdom`	Yes	Kingdom classification
`species`	Yes	Species classification
`habitats`	Yes	List of habitat types
`name_type`	Yes	Type of name (scientific, vernacular)
`authorship`	Yes	Author(s) who named the taxon
`freshwater`	Yes	Whether species occurs in freshwater environments
`terrestrial`	Yes	Whether species occurs in terrestrial environments
`canonical_name`	Yes	Canonical form of scientific name
`num_descendants`	Yes	Number of descendant taxa
`num_occurrences`	Yes	Number of occurrence records
`scientific_name`	Yes	Full scientific name
`taxonomic_status`	Yes	Status (accepted, synonym, etc.)

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed2 schema fields changedMay 24, 2026

addedInput schema / examples

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "key": 2436436
+  }
+]

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "authorship": {
+      "description": "Author(s) who named the taxon",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "canonical_name": {
+      "description": "Canonical form of scientific name",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "class": {
+      "description": "Class classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "extinct": {
+      "description": "Whether species is extinct",
+      "type": [
+        "boolean",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "family": {
+      "description": "Family classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "freshwater": {
+      "description": "Whether species occurs in freshwater environments",
+      "type": [
+        "boolean",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "genus": {
+      "description": "Genus classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "habitats": {
+      "description": "List of habitat types",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "key": {
+      "description": "GBIF taxon key identifier",
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    "kingdom": {
+      "description": "Kingdom classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "marine": {
+      "description": "Whether species occurs in marine environments",
+      "type": [
+        "boolean",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "name_type": {
+      "description": "Type of name (scientific, vernacular)",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "num_descendants": {
+      "description": "Number of descendant taxa",
+      "type": [
+        "number",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "num_occurrences": {
+      "description": "Number of occurrence records",
+      "type": [
+        "number",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "order": {
+      "description": "Order classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "phylum": {
+      "description": "Phylum classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "rank": {
+      "description": "Taxonomic rank",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "scientific_name": {
+      "description": "Full scientific name",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "species": {
+      "description": "Species classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "taxonomic_status": {
+      "description": "Status (accepted, synonym, etc.)",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "terrestrial": {
+      "description": "Whether species occurs in terrestrial environments",
+      "type": [
+        "boolean",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "key",
+    "scientific_name",
+    "canonical_name",
+    "rank",
+    "taxonomic_status",
+    "authorship",
+    "name_type",
+    "kingdom",
+    "phylum",
+    "class",
+    "order",
+    "family",
+    "genus",
+    "species",
+    "num_descendants",
+    "num_occurrences",
+    "extinct",
+    "marine",
+    "freshwater",
+    "terrestrial",
+    "habitats"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

Changed2 schema fields changedMay 12, 2026

removedInput schema / examples

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "key": 2436436
-  }
-]

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -{
-  "properties": {
-    "authorship": {
-      "description": "Author(s) who named the taxon",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "canonical_name": {
-      "description": "Canonical form of scientific name",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "class": {
-      "description": "Class classification",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "extinct": {
-      "description": "Whether species is extinct",
-      "type": [
-        "boolean",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "family": {
-      "description": "Family classification",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "freshwater": {
-      "description": "Whether species occurs in freshwater environments",
-      "type": [
-        "boolean",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "genus": {
-      "description": "Genus classification",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "habitats": {
-      "description": "List of habitat types",
-      "items": {
-        "type": "string"
-      },
-      "type": "array"
-    },
-    "key": {
-      "description": "GBIF taxon key identifier",
-      "type": "number"
-    },
-    "kingdom": {
-      "description": "Kingdom classification",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "marine": {
-      "description": "Whether species occurs in marine environments",
-      "type": [
-        "boolean",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "name_type": {
-      "description": "Type of name (scientific, vernacular)",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "num_descendants": {
-      "description": "Number of descendant taxa",
-      "type": [
-        "number",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "num_occurrences": {
-      "description": "Number of occurrence records",
-      "type": [
-        "number",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "order": {
-      "description": "Order classification",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "phylum": {
-      "description": "Phylum classification",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "rank": {
-      "description": "Taxonomic rank",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "scientific_name": {
-      "description": "Full scientific name",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "species": {
-      "description": "Species classification",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "taxonomic_status": {
-      "description": "Status (accepted, synonym, etc.)",
-      "type": [
-        "string",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    },
-    "terrestrial": {
-      "description": "Whether species occurs in terrestrial environments",
-      "type": [
-        "boolean",
-        "null"
-      ]
-    }
-  },
-  "required": [
-    "key",
-    "scientific_name",
-    "canonical_name",
-    "rank",
-    "taxonomic_status",
-    "authorship",
-    "name_type",
-    "kingdom",
-    "phylum",
-    "class",
-    "order",
-    "family",
-    "genus",
-    "species",
-    "num_descendants",
-    "num_occurrences",
-    "extinct",
-    "marine",
-    "freshwater",
-    "terrestrial",
-    "habitats"
-  ],
-  "type": "object"
-}New value: +null

Changed1 schema field changedMay 8, 2026

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "authorship": {
+      "description": "Author(s) who named the taxon",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "canonical_name": {
+      "description": "Canonical form of scientific name",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "class": {
+      "description": "Class classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "extinct": {
+      "description": "Whether species is extinct",
+      "type": [
+        "boolean",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "family": {
+      "description": "Family classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "freshwater": {
+      "description": "Whether species occurs in freshwater environments",
+      "type": [
+        "boolean",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "genus": {
+      "description": "Genus classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "habitats": {
+      "description": "List of habitat types",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "key": {
+      "description": "GBIF taxon key identifier",
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    "kingdom": {
+      "description": "Kingdom classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "marine": {
+      "description": "Whether species occurs in marine environments",
+      "type": [
+        "boolean",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "name_type": {
+      "description": "Type of name (scientific, vernacular)",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "num_descendants": {
+      "description": "Number of descendant taxa",
+      "type": [
+        "number",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "num_occurrences": {
+      "description": "Number of occurrence records",
+      "type": [
+        "number",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "order": {
+      "description": "Order classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "phylum": {
+      "description": "Phylum classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "rank": {
+      "description": "Taxonomic rank",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "scientific_name": {
+      "description": "Full scientific name",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "species": {
+      "description": "Species classification",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "taxonomic_status": {
+      "description": "Status (accepted, synonym, etc.)",
+      "type": [
+        "string",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    },
+    "terrestrial": {
+      "description": "Whether species occurs in terrestrial environments",
+      "type": [
+        "boolean",
+        "null"
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "key",
+    "scientific_name",
+    "canonical_name",
+    "rank",
+    "taxonomic_status",
+    "authorship",
+    "name_type",
+    "kingdom",
+    "phylum",
+    "class",
+    "order",
+    "family",
+    "genus",
+    "species",
+    "num_descendants",
+    "num_occurrences",
+    "extinct",
+    "marine",
+    "freshwater",
+    "terrestrial",
+    "habitats"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

Changed1 schema field changedMay 6, 2026
- addedInput schema / examples
```
Added value: +[
+  {
+    "key": 2436436
+  }
+]
```
First observedApr 14, 2026

TDQS

A4.5/5.0

Behavior4/5

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint, idempotentHint, and openWorldHint. The description adds value by promising 'Returns all ranks and accepted name status', giving the agent concrete behavioral expectations beyond the annotations.

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?

Two sentences, no fluff. The first sentence states the core function, the second adds the prerequisite and return content. Entirely front-loaded and every word earns its place.

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

Completeness5/5

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

With an output schema present and only one simple parameter, the description fully covers the tool's purpose, prerequisite, and return characteristics. No necessary context is missing for correct invocation.

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

Parameters4/5

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

Schema coverage is 100% (key described as 'GBIF taxon key'). The description adds meaning by stating the key comes from search_species, which is crucial for the agent to know how to obtain the parameter value.

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 uses a specific verb and resource: 'Get complete taxonomic classification for a species (kingdom through subspecies).' It clearly distinguishes this from sibling tools like get_occurrences and search_species by focusing on taxonomy ranks and accepted name status.

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?

It explicitly states a prerequisite: 'Requires taxon key from search_species', which tells the agent when this tool is relevant (after obtaining a key). However, it does not explicitly exclude alternatives or mention when not to use it, so it's clear context without exclusions.

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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Get Species

Example tool call

Input Schema

Output Schema

Schema Changelog

TDQS

Glama MCP Gateway

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