NEWSLETTER | FEBRUARY 2026 |
Every iNaturalist observation is a data point, and together they add up to big discoveries. Read on for the latest discoveries, hopeful stories, and ways to stay connected! |
Happy February, The iNaturalist Team 🌿 |
QUESTION OF THE MONTH: How many people have contributed at least one verifiable observation to iNaturalist? |
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| A) Less than 500,000 B) 1.5 million C) 4 million D) 9 million |
(Scroll to the end for the answer!) |
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Real-world science, powered by iNaturalist observations |
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A moth thought extinct for almost 150 years reappears on iNaturalist |
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Only two specimens of an emerald-green South African moth existed in the world—both collected in 1875 and now faded to salmon pink in a natural history museum. Between 2020 and 2023, twelve iNaturalist users posted photos from four locations across South Africa, providing the first-ever images of live Drepanogynis insciata (also called Axiodes insciata — taxonomy is complicated!). Without those observers in the right place at the right time, this 147-year-old mystery might never have been solved.
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A new plant species was hiding in plain sight for decades |
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A new species was hiding in plain sight at 4,200 meters elevation in the Peruvian Andes. Botanists combined traditional herbarium specimens with 233 iNaturalist observations to describe Euphorbia peruviandina. Community science fills critical gaps in remote, understudied regions where field expeditions are rare. The species is already classified as endangered, facing threats from grazing, fire, and climate change. Documenting biodiversity is the first step toward protecting it.
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This tropical crab is outpacing its own habitat northward |
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Warming oceans are changing not only where species live, but which habitats they can inhabit. A tropical mangrove crab is now thriving in salt marshes 307 kilometers north of its original range — and it arrived faster than the mangroves themselves. Researchers combined iNaturalist observations with field surveys to track the Atlantic mangrove fiddler crab's expansion from Florida into South Carolina as ocean temperatures rise half a degree per decade.
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Stories from iNaturalist community members |
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| Meet Charley Eisman, leaf mine identifier extraordinaire |
Look closer at the squiggles, blisters, and trails on leaves: leaf mines are “excavations” made by insect larvae feeding inside a leaf, between its two epidermal layers. In this Identifier Profile, Charley Eiseman shares how iNaturalist observations power both his Leafminers of North America guide and real scientific research, and offers practical tips for documenting leaf mines!
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| Every iNaturalist user contributes something unique to science
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Every iNaturalist user contributes differently — and that's exactly what makes the platform work. A new study analyzing over 7.5 million observations in the southeastern United States found that highly active users tend to seek out biodiversity hotspots and protected areas, and contribute the majority of research-grade records. |
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Meanwhile, casual users fill critical gaps by observing in their daily lives — often in urban neighborhoods, unprotected rural lands, and low-income areas that would otherwise go unsampled. This diversity creates a more complete picture of biodiversity than any single group could achieve alone. Every observation counts, no matter how often or from where you contribute! |
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Tips, resources, & ways to plug in |
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| What’s changing in nature around you? |
Seasonal changes are happening all around us — and your observations help scientists track them. Whether you're documenting flowering plants, leafing trees, or animal activity, adding annotations to your iNaturalist observations contributes to research on understanding how climate change might be influencing natural cycles. |
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Annotations like flower stage, leaf status, and life stage are all fair game. Not sure what each one means? This guide has clear definitions for every annotation type.
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QUESTION OF THE MONTH: How many people have contributed at least one verifiable observation to iNaturalist? Answer: C. 4 million!
As of 2026, 4 million observers worldwide have shared what they’ve noticed in nature on iNaturalist. Millions visit iNaturalist each month, but these 4 million took the extra step to contribute. |
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So far, this community has created nearly 300 million observations, supporting science, discovery, and conservation as biodiversity changes around us. Your observations have contributed to nearly 7,000 peer‑reviewed papers and informed grassroots efforts worldwide. Thank you for your curiosity, and for helping each other stay connected to nature and to one another! |
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Thank you for everything that you do to support iNaturalist! |
iNaturalist is an independent, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization based in the United States of America (EIN/Tax ID: 92-1296468). |
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