Species Discovery Feed Screensaver
The Species Discovery Feed screensaver scrolls species newly described in scientific literature, drawn key-less from GBIF's taxonomic backbone — real new names entering science. It's free, runs in your browser, and ESC exits.
How the Species Discovery Feed screensaver works
The saver queries GBIF's taxonomic backbone for recently registered scientific names, with no key required.
Each new name scrolls through with its scientific name and taxonomic rank.
A running count tracks how many new names have appeared since you started watching.
The feed refreshes on a schedule to track real ongoing taxonomic work.
A worked example
You might see a newly named beetle or orchid scroll past — a real species just formally entered into the global taxonomic record, not a simulation.
Settings & tips
- Accent recolours the scrolling names.
- Most new species are insects and plants — the real bulk of undescribed biodiversity.
- Taxonomic registration can lag actual discovery by months.
Frequently asked questions
- Are these real new species?
- Yes — they're real scientific names newly registered in GBIF's taxonomic backbone, the same registry researchers use.
- Is a key needed?
- No — GBIF's public API is free and key-less.
- How many species are described each year?
- Real estimates put it around 15,000–20,000 newly described species annually, mostly insects.
- Is it free?
- Yes — free, no download, in your browser.