The Catalogue of Life: Mapping the World's Biodiversity
Understanding the vast array of life on Earth requires more than just observation; it requires a precise, organized system of record-keeping. For scientists, educators, and conservationists, the Catalogue of Life (CoL) serves as this essential master index. By consolidating data from across the globe, the Catalogue of Life provides a comprehensive directory of known species, ensuring that the biological community speaks a common language when identifying the organisms that share our planet.
Key Facts
- Launched: June 2001.
- Purpose: An online taxonomic catalogue indexing known species of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms.
- Current Scale: Listed 2,067,951 species as of September 2022.
- Data Sources: Compiles information from 165 peer-reviewed taxonomic databases.
- Accessibility: Free, non-commercial, and does not require registration.
What is the Catalogue of Life?
The Catalogue of Life is a global initiative designed to create a comprehensive index of all known species. It was established in 2001 through a partnership between Species 2000 and the American Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Rather than conducting its own primary research, the CoL acts as a clearinghouse, aggregating data from specialist institutions worldwide to provide a unified view of biodiversity.
The database is an invaluable resource for a wide range of users, including research scientists, policy makers, educators, and citizen scientists. It also provides the foundational data for other major biological platforms, such as the Encyclopedia of Life, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and the Barcode of Life Data System.
Data Structure and Maintenance
To maintain scientific accuracy, the Catalogue of Life employs a structured approach to biological data. It tracks synonymy (the different scientific names that have been applied to the same species), grouping within a taxonomic hierarchy (the ranked system of classification from kingdom down to species), common names, distribution, and ecological environments.
The CoL offers two primary ways to access its data:
- Dynamic Edition: A version updated monthly to reflect the most current findings, though these changes are not tracked.
- Annual Checklist: A dated, verifiable reference that provides a stable snapshot of names and data for a specific year.
Funding for the project was initially provided by the Species 2000 europa (EuroCat), 4d4Life, and i4Life projects between 2003 and 2013. Later support came from the Species Files group at the Illinois Natural History Survey and the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, the Netherlands.
The Scale of Global Biodiversity
The growth of the Catalogue of Life reflects the ongoing discovery and classification of Earth's inhabitants. The index grew from 300,000 species in 2003 to over 800,000 by 2006. By 2019, it listed 1.9 million extant (currently existing) and extinct species. As of September 2022, the checklist includes 2,067,951 species, representing the vast majority of the 2.2 million extant species currently known to taxonomists.
Despite these numbers, the Catalogue of Life highlights how much remains to be discovered. It is estimated that there are approximately 14 million species that remain largely unpublished. This number is uncertain due to a significant lack of data regarding undescribed bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and insects.
Global Partnerships and the Future of Taxonomy
The Catalogue of Life serves as a "backbone taxonomy," providing the structural framework that other global data portals use to organize their information. Through the i4Life project, it maintains formal partnerships with the IUCN Red List, the European Nucleotide Archive, Life Watch, and the European Consortium for the Barcode of Life.
Catalogue of Life Plus (COL+)
In 2015, a move toward a more integrated system began with the concept of Catalogue of Life Plus (COL+). This initiative involves a collaboration between CoL, GBIF, the Biodiversity Heritage Library, the Encyclopedia of Life, and the Barcode of Life Data System. The goal is to create a single, shared authoritative nomenclature—the scientific naming system—that connects biodiversity data across different sources.
COL+ aims to develop a clearinghouse for scientific names across all forms of life, providing a single taxonomic view and a mechanism for content authorities to provide feedback. Additionally, the CoL is working with the Global Species List Working Group to ensure there is one authoritative global list of species without unnecessary replication.
Catalogue of Life Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Website | www.catalogueoflife.org |
| Launch Date | June 2001 |
| Registration | Not required |
| Commercial Status | Non-commercial |
| Language | English (with multi-lingual services) |
| Data Sources | 165 peer-reviewed databases |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Dynamic Edition and the Annual Checklist?
The Dynamic Edition is updated every month to provide the most current data, though it does not track specific changes. The Annual Checklist is a fixed, dated version that serves as a verifiable reference for scientific research.
Who manages the data in the Catalogue of Life?
The Catalogue of Life compiles data from 165 peer-reviewed taxonomic databases maintained by specialist institutions around the world. Governance and contributor details are listed on the official CoL website.
How many species are actually known to science?
As of September 2022, the CoL Checklist lists 2,067,951 species, which covers most of the approximately 2.2 million extant species known to taxonomists.
What is "Catalogue of Life Plus"?
COL+ is a collaborative effort to build a single, shared authoritative nomenclature and taxonomic foundation. It aims to connect biodiversity data from various sources, including the CoL, GBIF, and the Encyclopedia of Life, into one integrated system.
Why are there so many species not yet in the Catalogue?
It is estimated that 14 million species remain unpublished. This is primarily due to a lack of data and the immense challenge of describing and classifying vast numbers of insects, bacteria, fungi, and nematodes.