# inaturalist-search-taxa

Search the iNaturalist taxonomic database by query and optional rank.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `inaturalist-search-taxa`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/inaturalist-search-taxa

## Facts

- Tool: `inaturalist-search-taxa`
- Server: Meta Data Mcp (`pypi:meta-data-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp.md
- Install: `npx -y pypi:meta-data-mcp`
- Homepage: https://github.com/derekslinz/meta-data-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "inaturalist-search-taxa",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why inaturalist-search-taxa is rated Low

This tool retrieves taxonomic information from iNaturalist's public database. The use of 'search' and the read-only nature of querying a taxonomic database—combined with the fact that it operates on open data APIs—means there are no side effects, data modification, code execution, or destructive operations. Misuse would at worst return irrelevant search results, presenting minimal blast radius.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'inaturalist-search-taxa' and description 'Search the iNaturalist taxonomic database by query and optional rank' indicate a query/search operation on a read-only public database with no modification or deletion capability."

## Use case

AI agents call inaturalist-search-taxa to retrieve information from Meta Data Mcp without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Meta Data Mcp:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "inaturalist-search-taxa": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Meta Data Mcp (395)

- `hackernews-new-stories` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/hackernews-new-stories.md
- `opendata_plugins_create` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/opendata-plugins-create.md
- `ovapi-stop-departures` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/ovapi-stop-departures.md
- `overpass-query` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/overpass-query.md
- `ssllabs-analyze` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/ssllabs-analyze.md
- `wikidata-sparql` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/wikidata-sparql.md
- `arxiv-get-paper` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/arxiv-get-paper.md
- `arxiv-query` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/arxiv-query.md
- `arxiv-search-by-author` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/arxiv-search-by-author.md
- `arxiv-search-by-category` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/arxiv-search-by-category.md
- `arxiv-search-by-title` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/arxiv-search-by-title.md
- `au-data-gov-get-dataset` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/au-data-gov-get-dataset.md
- `au-data-gov-get-organization` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/au-data-gov-get-organization.md
- `au-data-gov-list-groups` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/au-data-gov-list-groups.md
- `au-data-gov-list-organizations` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/au-data-gov-list-organizations.md
- `au-data-gov-list-tags` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/au-data-gov-list-tags.md
- `au-data-gov-search-datasets` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/au-data-gov-search-datasets.md
- `awc-metar` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/awc-metar.md
- `awc-station` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/awc-station.md
- `awc-taf` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/awc-taf.md
- `ca-open-gov-get-dataset` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/ca-open-gov-get-dataset.md
- `ca-open-gov-get-organization` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/ca-open-gov-get-organization.md
- `ca-open-gov-list-groups` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/ca-open-gov-list-groups.md
- `ca-open-gov-list-licenses` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/ca-open-gov-list-licenses.md
- `ca-open-gov-list-organizations` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/ca-open-gov-list-organizations.md
- `ca-open-gov-list-tags` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/ca-open-gov-list-tags.md
- `ca-open-gov-search-datasets` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/ca-open-gov-search-datasets.md
- `cbs-get-metadata` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/cbs-get-metadata.md
- `cbs-get-typed-dataset` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/cbs-get-typed-dataset.md
- `cbs-list-tables` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp/cbs-list-tables.md
- …and 365 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-derekslinz-meta-data-mcp