Our APIs
Providing developers and researchers with programmatic access to a vast repository of biodiversity data.
Features
Comprehensive Data Access
Gain access to a wide range of biodiversity data, including DNA barcodes, specimen records, and taxonomic information.
High Performance
Our API is optimized for performance, ensuring rapid data retrieval and efficient integration into your workflows.
Flexible Query Options
Customize your data queries with flexible parameters. Filter data by taxonomic groups, geographic regions, collection dates, and more.
Public Data API
Our Public Data APIs provide access to specimen, sequence, and trace data from the BOLD Public Data Portal.
Format Guidelines
- Multiple Parameters: Use ampersands ('&') to separate multiple parameters, treated as logical "AND" clauses.
- Multiple Values: Use pipes ('|') to separate multiple values within a parameter, treated as logical "OR" clauses.
- Space Encoding: Ensure all spaces in URLs are encoded.
General Parameters
| Parameter | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| taxon | Returns all records containing matching taxa. Includes scientific names at various taxonomic levels (phylum, class, order, family, genus, species). | taxon=Bos taurus or taxon=Aves|Reptilia |
| ids | Returns all records containing matching IDs. Includes Sample IDs, Process IDs, Museum IDs, and Field IDs. | ids=ACRJP618-11|ACRJP619-11 |
| bin | Returns all records contained in matching BINs (Barcode Index Numbers). | bin=BOLD:AAA5125|BOLD:AAA5126 |
| container | Returns all records contained in matching projects or datasets. | container=SSBAA|SSBAB |
| institutions | Returns all records stored in matching institutions. | institutions=Biodiversity Institute of Ontario|York University |
| researchers | Returns all records containing matching researcher names. | researchers=Thibaud Decaens|Rodolphe Rougerie |
| geo | Returns all records collected in matching geographic sites (countries, provinces/states). | geo=Canada|Alaska |
| format (optional) | Specify the output format. Options include xml, json, tsv, dwc (Darwin Core formatted TSV), fasta. | (optional) format=xml |
Example
- To retrieve traces belonging to the genus Bombus, stored in the institution York University. http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/API_Public/trace?taxon=Bombus&institutions=York%20University
Taxonomy API
It details the structure of the taxonomy service, highlighting how users can retrieve data based on taxonomic ranks and search for specific scientific names or groups.
ID Engine API
It details the structure of the taxonomy service, highlighting how users can retrieve data based on taxonomic ranks and search for specific scientific names or groups.
API URL GENERATOR
It details the structure of the taxonomy service, highlighting how users can retrieve data based on taxonomic ranks and search for specific scientific names or groups.