# GBIF Species & Biodiversity Occurrence Search (Free) (`fit_melon/gbif-species-occurrence-search`) Actor Resolve species names to the GBIF backbone taxonomy and export biodiversity occurrence records with GPS coordinates, dates and datasets. Filter by country and year. Free open ecology data. - **URL**: https://apify.com/fit\_melon/gbif-species-occurrence-search.md - **Developed by:** [D N](https://apify.com/fit_melon) (community) - **Categories:** Developer tools, Other - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per usage This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-usage ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## GBIF Species & Biodiversity Occurrence Search (Free) Resolve any species name to the **GBIF backbone taxonomy** and pull real **biodiversity occurrence records** — observations, museum specimens and research-grade sightings — from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, the world's largest open biodiversity network (2+ billion records). Give it a list of scientific or common names and get back full taxonomy (kingdom → species), the total number of recorded occurrences, and individual records with **GPS coordinates, dates, datasets and collectors**. Filter by country, year range, or georeferenced records only. This actor is **100% free** — you only pay your own Apify platform usage. ### Input | Field | Type | Default | Description | |---|---|---|---| | `species` | array of strings | *(required)* | Species names to resolve. One dataset item per name. | | `maxOccurrences` | integer | `25` | Occurrence records per species (0 = taxonomy only, max 300). | | `country` | string | `""` | Optional ISO 2-letter country filter, e.g. `KE`, `FR`. | | `hasCoordinate` | boolean | `false` | Only return records with latitude/longitude. | | `fromYear` | integer | — | Optional earliest observation year. | | `toYear` | integer | — | Optional latest observation year. | ### Output One dataset item per species, always with an explicit `status` field (`found`, `not_found` or `error`) — the actor never crashes on an unknown name. ```json { "status": "found", "query": "Panthera leo", "usageKey": 5219404, "scientificName": "Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758)", "canonicalName": "Panthera leo", "rank": "SPECIES", "taxonomicStatus": "ACCEPTED", "matchType": "EXACT", "matchConfidence": 99, "kingdom": "Animalia", "phylum": "Chordata", "class": "Mammalia", "order": "Carnivora", "family": "Felidae", "genus": "Panthera", "species": "Panthera leo", "gbifUrl": "https://www.gbif.org/species/5219404", "totalOccurrences": 18913, "returnedOccurrences": 2, "topCountries": [{ "country": "South Africa", "count": 2 }], "earliestYear": 2019, "latestYear": 2026, "occurrences": [ { "occurrenceKey": 5938104699, "scientificName": "Panthera leo melanochaita (C.E.H.Smith, 1858)", "country": "South Africa", "countryCode": "ZA", "latitude": -24.907649, "longitude": 31.462346, "eventDate": "2026-01-01T09:15:50", "year": 2026, "basisOfRecord": "HUMAN_OBSERVATION", "recordedBy": "jniff", "datasetName": "iNaturalist research-grade observations", "gbifUrl": "https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/5938104699" } ], "error": null } ```` ### Use cases - **Ecology & conservation research** — map where a species has actually been recorded, and when. - **Clean a species list** — resolve synonyms and misspellings to accepted scientific names and stable GBIF keys. - **Build biodiversity dashboards** — feed coordinates straight into a GIS or mapping tool. - **Environmental due diligence** — check which protected or invasive species occur in a given country. ### Limitations & fair use - Data comes from the public [GBIF API](https://techdocs.gbif.org/en/openapi/). Occurrence records are contributed by thousands of institutions under varying open licences (mostly CC0 / CC BY) — always check and cite the source dataset before redistribution. - Name matching uses the GBIF backbone. Ambiguous or vernacular names may match a higher rank (genus, family); check `matchType` and `matchConfidence`. - `totalOccurrences` is the full GBIF count; `occurrences` only contains the first `maxOccurrences` records. - A polite delay is applied between requests. Network calls retry up to 3 times with backoff; failures are reported as an `error` item rather than crashing the run. ### More actors by this developer Browse the full collection of free data and enrichment actors: **[apify.com/fit\_melon](https://apify.com/fit_melon)** # Actor input Schema ## `species` (type: `array`): Scientific or common species names to resolve against the GBIF backbone taxonomy. One dataset item per name. Example: Panthera leo, Quercus robur. ## `maxOccurrences` (type: `integer`): How many individual occurrence records (observations, specimens) to return per species. Set to 0 to return taxonomy only. ## `country` (type: `string`): Optional 2-letter ISO country code to restrict occurrences, e.g. FR, KE, US. Leave empty for worldwide. ## `hasCoordinate` (type: `boolean`): If enabled, returns only occurrences that have latitude/longitude coordinates — useful for mapping. ## `fromYear` (type: `integer`): Optional earliest observation year. ## `toYear` (type: `integer`): Optional latest observation year. ## Actor input object example ```json { "species": [ "Panthera leo", "Quercus robur" ], "maxOccurrences": 25, "country": "", "hasCoordinate": false } ``` # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "species": [ "Panthera leo", "Quercus robur" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("fit_melon/gbif-species-occurrence-search").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "species": [ "Panthera leo", "Quercus robur", ] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("fit_melon/gbif-species-occurrence-search").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "species": [ "Panthera leo", "Quercus robur" ] }' | apify call fit_melon/gbif-species-occurrence-search --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fit_melon/gbif-species-occurrence-search", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "GBIF Species & Biodiversity Occurrence Search (Free)", "description": "Resolve species names to the GBIF backbone taxonomy and export biodiversity occurrence records with GPS coordinates, dates and datasets. Filter by country and year. Free open ecology data.", "version": "0.0", "x-build-id": "IecXx1jDe5mXdYG89" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/fit_melon~gbif-species-occurrence-search/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-fit_melon-gbif-species-occurrence-search", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/fit_melon~gbif-species-occurrence-search/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-fit_melon-gbif-species-occurrence-search", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/fit_melon~gbif-species-occurrence-search/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-fit_melon-gbif-species-occurrence-search", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "species" ], "properties": { "species": { "title": "Species names", "type": "array", "description": "Scientific or common species names to resolve against the GBIF backbone taxonomy. One dataset item per name. Example: Panthera leo, Quercus robur.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxOccurrences": { "title": "Max occurrence records per species", "minimum": 0, "maximum": 300, "type": "integer", "description": "How many individual occurrence records (observations, specimens) to return per species. Set to 0 to return taxonomy only.", "default": 25 }, "country": { "title": "Country filter (ISO code)", "type": "string", "description": "Optional 2-letter ISO country code to restrict occurrences, e.g. FR, KE, US. Leave empty for worldwide.", "default": "" }, "hasCoordinate": { "title": "Only georeferenced records", "type": "boolean", "description": "If enabled, returns only occurrences that have latitude/longitude coordinates — useful for mapping.", "default": false }, "fromYear": { "title": "From year", "minimum": 1600, "type": "integer", "description": "Optional earliest observation year." }, "toYear": { "title": "To year", "minimum": 1600, "type": "integer", "description": "Optional latest observation year." } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```