Why doesn't iNaturalist recognize the name I've entered?

iNaturalist has name information for many different kinds of organisms and continues to add new taxa to our database. If we do not recognize a particular name you have entered, it's possible it is an outdated synonym or that it is simply missing from the database.

If a species or other taxon is missing from the iNaturalist database, first try clicking the "Search external name providers" link that appears after you search for a name and get no results. You can also try alternative names that we might recognize (common names, old scientific names).

If that doesn't work, add the original name to the description or as a comment and save it. 

Then:

1. Search for your taxon's parent taxon in the header search on the iNat website. For example, if you want to want to add Crotalus exampleus to iNaturalist, you would search for Crotalus in the search box and click "About" next to it.
   
   
   
2. This will take you to the taxon's page. Click on the Curation menu (under the graph on the right) and select "Flag for Curation".
   
   
   
3. Write a short note about the taxon you would like to add and please link to a source. Our site curators will see it and take a look as soon as possible.