Science

Data source: GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)

MCP MCP Protocol

Endpoint https://context.gnist.ai/mcp/gbif/

nobloat — strip report_feedback tool URL-based auth (for clients without header support)

claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gnist-gbif": {
      "url": "https://context.gnist.ai/mcp/gbif/",
      "headers": {
        "Gnist-API-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Shell

curl -X POST "https://context.gnist.ai/mcp/gbif/" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Accept: application/json, text/event-stream" \
  -H "Gnist-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc": "2.0", "method": "tools/call", "id": 1, "params": {"name": "search_species", "arguments": {"query": "example"}}}'

API REST API

API Root https://context.gnist.ai/rest/gbif/

6 endpoints available:

GET /rest/gbif/search_species
GET /rest/gbif/get_species
GET /rest/gbif/search_occurrences
GET /rest/gbif/search_datasets
GET /rest/gbif/get_species_distribution
GET /rest/gbif/report_feedback

Shell

curl "https://context.gnist.ai/rest/gbif/search_species?query=example" \
  -H "Gnist-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Python

import httpx

resp = httpx.get(
    "https://context.gnist.ai/rest/gbif/search_species",
    headers={"Gnist-API-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY"},
    params={
        "query": "example"
},
)
print(resp.json())

OpenAPI Spec · Full API Docs

CLI Command Line

Command gc gbif

CLI documentation will be available when the GnistAI SDK is published.

Install

pip install gnistai

Available Tools (6)

search_species

Search the GBIF taxonomy backbone for species, genera, families, or higher taxa.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`query`	`string`	required	Species name or keyword (e.g. "Panthera leo", "orchid", "Atlantic salmon", "pine").
`rank`	`any`	optional	Taxonomic rank filter: SPECIES, GENUS, FAMILY, ORDER, CLASS, PHYLUM, KINGDOM. Omit for all.
`habitat`	`any`	optional	Habitat filter: MARINE, FRESHWATER, TERRESTRIAL. Omit for all.
`limit`	`integer`	optional	Number of results (1–50, default 20). (default: 20)

get_species

Get full taxonomic details for a species by its GBIF taxon key.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`taxon_key`	`string`	required	GBIF taxon key (numeric). Found in search_species results.

search_occurrences

Search 2.4B+ biodiversity occurrence records — species sightings, specimens, and observations.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`taxon_key`	`any`	optional	GBIF taxon key (numeric). Use search_species to find keys. Provide this or scientific_name.
`scientific_name`	`any`	optional	Scientific name (e.g. "Panthera leo"). Alternative to taxon_key.
`country`	`any`	optional	ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code (e.g. 'NO' for Norway, 'US', 'GB').
`year_range`	`any`	optional	Year or year range (e.g. '2023' or '2020,2024' for a range).
`basis_of_record`	`any`	optional	Record type: HUMAN_OBSERVATION, PRESERVED_SPECIMEN, MACHINE_OBSERVATION, FOSSIL_SPECIMEN, LIVING_SPECIMEN.
`has_coordinate`	`any`	optional	Filter to records with GPS coordinates.
`limit`	`integer`	optional	Number of results (1–50, default 20). (default: 20)

search_datasets

Search 100K+ biodiversity datasets published through GBIF.

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`query`	`string`	required	Dataset search term (e.g. "birds Norway", "marine mammals", "eBird", "herbarium").
`type_filter`	`any`	optional	Dataset type: OCCURRENCE, CHECKLIST, SAMPLING_EVENT, METADATA.
`publishing_country`	`any`	optional	ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code of the publishing country.
`limit`	`integer`	optional	Number of results (1–50, default 20). (default: 20)