What InfiniteSpecies does
InfiniteSpecies is a free interactive map for exploring biological taxonomy. It is designed to let a curious visitor move from broad groups to individual organisms, search names, and share a destination. The interface and introductory reading pages are in English.
Where the data comes from
The map uses a processed Open Tree of Life taxonomy dataset arranged into nested circles. This is a visualization of taxonomy, not a display of the Open Tree synthetic phylogeny. The layout does not encode dates, genetic distances, conservation status, or geographic distributions. The data is a snapshot and may differ from other sources or from subsequent scientific revisions.
Descriptions, photographs and names
Information cards request English-language summaries and thumbnails from Wikipedia, and taxonomic ranks from Wikidata when available. Source links accompany available summaries; Wikipedia text is shared under its applicable Creative Commons terms, while image credits and licenses can be checked through the linked source. Everyday-name search uses a small built-in vocabulary and may query GBIF when local searches have no results. Resolved names are only shown when their scientific name is found in the map. Coverage and agreement between sources are not complete.
Your browser and external services
Your language, settings, and dismissed map tips are saved in this browser. The map loads data from its taxonomy service. Opening previews contacts Wikipedia and Wikidata; a fallback name search contacts GBIF. Those services receive the requested name and the usual connection information. This release does not add an analytics tracker or require an account to explore.
Help make the next visit better
If a name looks wrong, a destination does not open, or a control is difficult to use, report it through the project issue tracker linked below. Include the shared map link, what you expected to happen, and your device or browser. A small, reproducible example is especially helpful.