Supercharge your AI with GBIF. Map Species Distribution Across Continents
Works with every AI agent you already use
…and any MCP-compatible client








Connect to your AI in seconds.
GBIF connects your AI agent directly to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the world’s largest open database for species records.
Search 2.4 billion entries to find complete taxonomy, precise observation locations, and geographic distribution data for any known species on Earth.
What your AI can do
Get gbif occurrences
Find specific recorded locations where a species has been observed, with an optional filter by country code.
Get gbif species
Retrieve full details and common names for a known species using its unique GBIF key.
Search gbif species
Search the entire 2.4 billion record database by scientific or common name to find taxonomy and occurrence counts.
Get a complete taxonomic breakdown for any species by its scientific name or common name.
Find every recorded location where a specific species has been observed, filtered down to countries using ISO codes.
Query millions of records for any general criteria, like searching all 'orchid' species or specific plant families.
Ask an AI about this
Compatible AI Apps
OAuth 2.0 CompatibleWaiting for input…
GBIF MCP: Three Core Tools
Use these three specialized tools to perform everything from broad searches of biodiversity records to pinpointing specific species locations worldwide.
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Add this MCP to Claude, Cursor, or Windsurf and your AI stops guessing. It gets real tools to look things up, take action, and handle the stuff you keep doing by hand.
Start using GBIF on VinkiusGet Gbif Occurrences
Find specific recorded locations where a species has been observed, with an optional filter by country code.
Get Gbif Species
Retrieve full details and common names for a known species using its unique GBIF key.
Search Gbif Species
Search the entire 2.4 billion record database by scientific or common name to find...
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Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and more
The Model Context Protocol standardizes how applications expose capabilities to LLMs. Instead of operating in isolation, your AI gains direct access to external platforms, live data, and real-world actions through secure, standardized connections.
This connection provides 3 powerful capabilities that interface natively with Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and other compatible AI platforms. No middleware. No custom integration required.
Tracking Species Data Has Always Been a Pain Point
Today, getting comprehensive biological records means jumping between five different databases. You find the species name on Wikipedia; then you use Google Maps to estimate range; next, you check an institutional site for taxonomy, and finally, if you get lucky, you find a PDF with some old occurrence coordinates—and none of it talks to each other.
With this MCP, your agent pulls everything together. You ask about the blue whale's habitat, and you don't get links to five different sites; you get one consolidated report showing its taxonomy, common names in multiple languages, and precise location records from around the world.
Get Species Data with `get_gbif_occurrences`
Manually collecting occurrence data means downloading massive CSV files and writing custom scripts just to filter by country or date range. It’s time-consuming, error-prone work that takes hours of cleaning up.
Now, you simply ask for the records using `get_gbif_occurrences`. The MCP handles the heavy lifting—it filters the global dataset instantly and gives you only what you need, right where you are.
What your AI can actually do with this
Need to know where a species has been seen? This MCP connects your AI agent to GBIF—the massive global repository of life data. Forget piecing together info from half-baked sources; here you get the full picture. You can search by common name (like 'lion') or scientific title and instantly pull up complete taxonomic hierarchies, showing everything from the Kingdom down to the exact species level.
Better yet, if you know a species, you can locate every recorded spot it's been found—complete with GPS coordinates and dates. This means you stop guessing about habitats and start mapping them. It’s exactly the kind of specialized data pull that makes platforms like Vinkius indispensable, letting your agent access resources usually locked behind institutional subscriptions.
019d75a2-e68d-7062-83c4-3e7365d46c73 Here's how it actually works
The bottom line is you get verifiable, globally sourced biological data without needing to manually build complex API requests.
Connect your AI client to the GBIF MCP.
Prompt your agent with a query—for example, 'Where has the jaguar been seen in Brazil?'
The tool pulls specific location and taxonomy data from the global database directly into your chat window.
Who is this actually for?
Any scientist whose job involves field research or environmental assessment. This MCP helps the conservation biologist who needs precise distribution maps, the ecologist checking species IDs in the field, and the consultant proving biodiversity impact for a regulatory report.
Mapping species distributions to identify critical habitats that need protection or management.
Assessing the level of biodiversity in a specific geographic region for regulatory impact studies and compliance reports.
Verifying species identification or exploring deep taxonomic relationships for research papers and field guides.
What Changes When You Connect
Pinpoint exact habitat ranges. Instead of just knowing a species exists, you can run get_gbif_occurrences to map every recorded GPS coordinate, making your conservation plan actionable.
Get crystal-clear taxonomy instantly. Use search_gbif_species to get the full Linnaean classification for any plant or animal, no matter how obscure its common name is.
Handle massive datasets without keys. You don't need a developer or an API key to access this info; just prompt your agent and let it run the query through the MCP.
Filter results by geography. When checking regional impacts, you can use get_gbif_occurrences and restrict your search to specific countries using ISO codes (like US or BR).
Speed up initial research. If you're just scoping out a topic—say, 'blue whale'—search_gbif_species gives you the general overview and taxonomy counts before you dive into specific locations.
See it in action
Mapping habitat loss for an endangered species
A biologist needs to know if a rare orchid (e.g., 'orchid') still exists in the Southeast US. They use search_gbif_species first to confirm its taxonomy, then run get_gbif_occurrences with the ISO-2 code for the US to pinpoint current and historical locations.
Verifying a species ID during field research
An ecologist finds an animal and needs 100% confirmation. They use get_gbif_species with the unique GBIF key to pull up the accepted taxonomy, common names in multiple languages, and taxonomic status.
Assessing impact for a regulatory filing
A consultant must prove biodiversity levels near a proposed construction site. They query get_gbif_occurrences using the specific country code and a search term (e.g., 'jaguar') to gather hard, verifiable data points.
The honest tradeoffs
Assuming one tool covers everything
A user might try to use get_gbif_species just because it's simple, but then realize they need location data and are stuck.
Don't stop at species details. If you want locations, always follow up with get_gbif_occurrences. Use the tools complementarily to build a complete picture.
Searching without specifying scope
Querying for 'blue whale' but not telling your agent if they need taxonomy or locations, resulting in vague data.
Be explicit. If you want the full lineage, use search_gbif_species. If you only care about where it has been seen, use get_gbif_occurrences.
Over-relying on general search terms
Using a common name that yields too many results across unrelated species, making the data unusable.
Try to narrow it down. If you have a key, use get_gbif_species. Otherwise, combine search_gbif_species with a country filter in get_gbif_occurrences.
When It Fits, When It Doesn't
Use this MCP if your job requires linking scientific taxonomy (the 'what') to verifiable geography (the 'where'). If you only need general web research or basic Wikipedia info, stick with standard search engines. But if you're dealing with real-world biodiversity—mapping habitats, assessing species risk, or writing a paper that needs hard data points—this is your tool. Use search_gbif_species when you are starting from scratch and need to identify the right species key. Once you have that key, use get_gbif_occurrences if location matters. If all else fails, get_gbif_species gives you a single point of definitive data for one known type.
Questions you might have
How do I use get_gbif_occurrences to find locations? +
You ask your agent for records and specify the species name or key. You can also narrow results down by country using an ISO 2-letter code (like US or BR) when running get_gbif_occurrences.
Does search_gbif_species give me location data? +
No, that tool gives you the taxonomy and counts—the 'what' of the species. If you need actual locations, you must use get_gbif_occurrences.
What is the difference between get_gbif_species and search_gbif_species? +
search_gbif_species runs a broad query across the entire database by name. get_gbif_species requires you to provide a specific key for pinpoint, comprehensive data on one type.
Can I use this MCP with my existing workflow? +
Yes. Once connected via Vinkius, your agent can call these tools naturally within any compatible client like Cursor or Claude, integrating the data into your current project flow.
How do I connect my agent to use search_gbif_species without needing an API key? +
You don't need a separate API key. Just subscribe to this MCP via Vinkius, and your AI client handles the connection for you. This lets you start querying the 2.4 billion records immediately.
Does get_gbif_species provide common names in multiple languages? +
Yes, it includes vernacular names for a species. The tool returns common names and their respective language codes, helping you understand the animal or plant across different cultures.
What is the total scope of records available when I run search_gbif_species? +
The MCP accesses data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), which covers over 2.4 billion biodiversity records globally. This means you can search for any species identified by major institutions worldwide.
What happens if I use an incorrect country code with get_gbif_occurrences? +
The tool requires a valid ISO 2-letter country code (like US, BR, AU, or GB). If you provide an invalid code, the query will fail and prompt you to correct the geographical filter.
What types of organisms are covered in GBIF? +
GBIF covers all life on Earth across all kingdoms: Animalia (animals), Plantae (plants), Fungi (mushrooms, yeasts), Bacteria, Archaea, Chromista (algae, diatoms), and Protozoa. From microscopic bacteria to blue whales, from orchids to ancient ferns — if a species has been scientifically described, GBIF likely has records for it.
Is GBIF data free and do I need to register? +
Yes, GBIF data is completely free and open under CC0, CC-BY, or CC-BY-NC licenses. No registration or API key is required for programmatic access. GBIF is funded by governments of 40+ member countries and endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme.
Can I filter species observations by country or region? +
Yes! The occurrence search supports country filtering using ISO-2 country codes (US for United States, BR for Brazil, AU for Australia, GB for United Kingdom, JP for Japan, etc.). This allows you to find exactly where a species has been observed in a specific country with GPS coordinates and dates.
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