# 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)

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `science.itistaxonomy.search_common`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-whiteknightonhorse-apibase/science.itistaxonomy.search-common

## Facts

- Tool: `science.itistaxonomy.search_common`
- Server: Apibase (`apibase-mcp-client`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-whiteknightonhorse-apibase.md
- Install: `npx -y apibase-mcp-client`
- Homepage: https://github.com/whiteknightonhorse/APIbase
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server auth posture: open
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 1 (1 required)
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Parameters

| 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.

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

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "science.itistaxonomy.search_common",
    "arguments": {
      "query": "<query>"
    }
  }
}
```

## 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 own definition: "Search ITIS database by common name, returns matching taxa"

## Use case

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.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

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

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "science.itistaxonomy.search_common": {}
  }
}
```

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## 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-whiteknightonhorse-apibase · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-whiteknightonhorse-apibase