As a curious nature lover, you may have encountered a plant or animal you didn’t know and wondered if there was a way to instantly identify it.
Taking a picture of the species and trying to figure it out on Google (if you have network connectivity) may prove more confusing and frustrating.
If you don’t have a science background, it may be challenging to differentiate minor details that can give you an accurate identity.
However, one nature app has to come to the rescue.
With the iNaturalist app, you can now instantly identify plants and animals around you.
The app is a product of iNaturalist.org, an independent and non-profit organization that seeks to help people identify plants and animals while generating data for science and observation.
The app is free, and the best part is that it has both online and offline functionality!
How to Use the iNaturalist App
The app offers an easy way to identify plants and animals. All you need to do is take a picture of the species or upload a photo already taken on the “Observe” icon. Thanks to their AI-powered identification feature, you can instantly and accurately identify the plant or animal.
You can also share your pictures with other users and scientists to get further verification for your observation. Apart from helping you with identification, the online community can help you learn interesting things about the plant or animal you’ve found.
Currently, the app can identify over 430,000 species of plants and animals, making it the leading source of biodiversity data for most species globally.
Other Benefits You Get on the iNaturalist App
Here are other benefits you can get from using the iNaturalist app:
- You contribute to the biodiversity knowledge scientists can use to understand and preserve nature.
- You can join smaller communities to learn more about local biodiversity and ongoing research and conservation projects.
- You can discuss and help others identify plants and animals.
- The app can help you control weeds by identifying native and invasive species.
The iNaturalist app is free to download from the Google Play Store and App Store.
The next time you need to identify a bird in your yard or a plant on your hiking trip, the iNaturalist app is all you need to make a quick and accurate ID.
As one user puts it, “Their photo identification is incredible, and the fact that others can verify your IDs is extra helpful, as well as being able to ID animals! Whether you’re looking to learn how to identify a few plants or restore a whole property. iNaturalist is the best!”
Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.