Your photos power science.

iNaturalist provides researchers with access to large-scale biodiversity datasets generated through community science efforts.

With over 260 million observations from more than 3 million users worldwide, iNaturalist is a powerful community science platform and biodiversity database. A recent study published in BioScience (and covered in The New York Times) demonstrates that scientific use of iNaturalist data has grown tenfold in five years, with community-collected observations now driving research across 128 countries and 638 taxonomic families.

iNaturalist supports open science and data. The platform creates a collaborative approach where anyone around the world can make observations that contribute to our understanding of the natural world.

iNaturalist has …

• Research-grade observations verified through community input
• Photographic evidence supporting species identifications
• Geographic metadata including precise location coordinates
• Temporal information documenting observation dates and times

How iNaturalist observations contribute to science

Documenting new species

People regularly find and formally describe new plants, insects, sea slugs, and so much more through iNaturalist observations — especially in remote or understudied areas.

Mapping life on Earth

Each observation helps scientists understand where species live and how their ranges are changing, especially as the climate changes. iNaturalist's robust dataset reveals patterns impossible to capture through traditional field studies alone.

Tracking seasonal patterns

Observations on iNaturalist with additional annotations help study seasonal timing of natural events like flowering and migration.

Your collective impact

"Millions of people are now directly shaping how we understand and conserve biodiversity—something that was unimaginable just a decade ago." — Dr. Corey Callaghan

• Over 6,000 peer-reviewed publications have incorporated iNaturalist data
• Research applications span ecology, systematics, biogeography, and conservation biology
• Citation frequency of iNaturalist-based research continues to increase in scientific literature

Community science is revolutionizing how we study nature. iNaturalist lets people all around the world directly contribute to ongoing science and conservation efforts.

Download iNaturalist | Technology for Nature | Community | Conservation