Note: these recommendations are mostly for thematic and regional checklists, not taxonomic descriptions.

Terms

Term	Status
taxonID	Required
scientificNameID	Share if available *
acceptedNameUsageID	Do not use
parentNameUsageID	Do not use
originalNameUsageID	Do not use
nameAccordingToID	Do not use
namePublishedInID	Do not use
taxonConceptID	Do not use
scientificName	Required
acceptedNameUsage	Do not use
parentNameUsage	Do not use
originalNameUsage	Do not use
nameAccordingTo	Do not use
namePublishedIn	Do not use
namePublishedInYear	Do not use
higherClassification	Do not use
kingdom	Required
phylum	Share if available
class	Share if available
order	Share if available
family	Share if available
genus	Share if available
subgenus	Do not use
specificEpithet	Do not use
infraspecificEpithet	Do not use
taxonRank	Required
verbatimTaxonRank	Recommended *
identificationQualifier	Recommended *
verbatimIdentification	Recommended *
scientificNameAuthorship	Do not use
vernacularName	Share if available
nomenclaturalCode	Do not use
taxonomicStatus	Do not use
nomenclaturalStatus	Do not use
taxonRemarks	Do not use

* Conditional, see Details section

Details

taxonID

Should be globally unique and preferably stable. GBIF uses the taxonID to assess if a (re)published taxon is a new one or one they already have. We therefore strongly recommend to choose a taxonID that is as globally unique and stable as possible. If such a taxon identifier is not present in the source data or the identifiers used there can easily change over time (e.g. numbered rows), we recommend generating taxonIDs in the mapping script.

Suggested components to combine as input for taxonID:

• dataset shortname
• scientific name
• kingdom

The scientific name and kingdom can be used as input for a hash function. This function creates a randomized code of fixed length from an input value. For a given input value, the code will always be the same and unique.

Some examples using the hash function:

• alien-plants-belgium:taxon:0005624db3a63ca28d63626bbe47e520 (input: shortname alien_plants_belgium + reference to taxon core (taxon) + randomized code using scientific name Achillea filipendulina Lam. and kingdom plantae as input
• alien-fishes-checklist:taxon:dec8ee68b3fae146c056b4972e3e6b83 (input: shortname alien_fishes_checklist + reference to taxon core (taxon) + randomized code using scientific name Acipenser baeri and kingdom animalia as input

Other examples of globally unique identifiers:

• urn:lsid:gbif.org:usages:32567
• http://species.gbif.org/abies_alba_1753

scientificNameID

If identified organism occurs in marine or brackish environment, it's relevant to technically facilitate uptake in OBIS by filling in its unique persistent identifier from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) in urn format. For instance, for this occurrence of Ensis ensis (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/3024789732), its WoRMS urn is filled in (cf. https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=140733):

e.g. urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:140733

scientificName

The taxon name. For species and genera, we advise to include date and authorship information.

e.g. Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771) e.g. Trachemys scripta troostii (Holbrook, 1836) e.g. Pogona (Storr, 1982)

kingdom

The full scientific name of the kingdom in which the taxon is classified.

e.g. Animalia, Plantae

phylum

The full scientific name of the phylum (or division) in which the taxon is classified.

e.g. Chordata, Bryophyta

class

The full scientific name of the class in which the taxon is classified.

e.g. Mammalia, Hepatisopsida

order

The full scientific name of the order in which the taxon is classified.

e.g. Carnivora, Monocleales

family

The full scientific name of the family in which the taxon is classified.

e.g. Felidae, Monoleaceae

genus

The full scientific name of the genus in which the taxon is classified, preferably including authorship information

taxonRank

Required. The taxonomic rank of the most specific name in the scientificName. Recommended vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/rank.xml

verbatimTaxonRank

Recommended if identification is a 'species aggregate' indicating some similar looking species, possibly within the same genus, for instance Weasel/Stoat Mustela nivalis/erminea (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/5921138995)

e.g. species aggregate

identificationQualifier

Recommended if identification is a 'species aggregate' indicating some similar looking species, possibly within the same genus, for instance Weasel/Stoat Mustela nivalis/erminea (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/5921138995)

e.g. species aggregate

verbatimIdentification

Recommended if identification is different than the taxon name mentioned in scientificName, especially in case of a 'species aggregate' indicating some similar looking species, possibly within the same genus, for instance Weasel/Stoat Mustela nivalis/erminea, if the genus name Mustela is filled in as the scientificName (https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/5921138995)

e.g. Mustela nivalis/erminea

vernacularName

Share if available, preferrably in Dutch (especially for Flemish data) or English, to enhance clarifying the identification for a wider audience.

e.g. Wezel/Hermelijn