science.itistaxonomy.search_common
Search the ITIS database by common (vernacular) name or partial name, e.g. "cougar" or "grizzly bear". Returns matching taxa with their TSN and the language of the common name (itis.gov, USGS public data)
This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-whiteknightonhorse-apibase/science.itistaxonomy.search-common.md
What science.itistaxonomy.search_common does on Apibase
AI agents call science.itistaxonomy.search_common to retrieve information from Apibase without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
query | string | Yes | Common (vernacular) name or partial name to search (e.g. "cougar", "grizzly bear"). |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
Why science.itistaxonomy.search_common is rated Low
Retrieves taxonomic data from public USGS database with no side effects or modifications.
From the tool's definition Search ITIS database by common name, returns matching taxa
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs science.itistaxonomy.search_common safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Apibase, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For science.itistaxonomy.search_common, this is the rule to start with:
science.itistaxonomy.search_common is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Apibase, apply this rule, and every science.itistaxonomy.search_common call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about science.itistaxonomy.search_common
Search the ITIS database by common (vernacular) name or partial name, e.g. "cougar" or "grizzly bear". Returns matching taxa with their TSN and the language of the common name (itis.gov, USGS public data). It is categorised as a Read tool in the Apibase MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
science.itistaxonomy.search_common accepts 1 parameter: query. Required: query. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the Apibase MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for science.itistaxonomy.search_common: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Apibase. Nothing to install.
science.itistaxonomy.search_common is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the science.itistaxonomy.search_common rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for science.itistaxonomy.search_common. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
science.itistaxonomy.search_common is provided by the Apibase MCP server (apibase-mcp-client). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
More on Apibase, and thousands of servers like it.
This server
Across the catalogue