ID Plate
The Purpose of the Taxa Naturae ID Plate
The ID plate is the core unit of Taxa Naturae. It is a standardized, high-resolution visual document of a single specimen, designed to serve as a permanent reference for that species. Unlike ordinary photographs, each plate is built to show the animal with maximum clarity and completeness, so that researchers, students, and future generations can study its external anatomy in detail without needing the physical specimen in front of them.
Multiple carefully chosen angles are essential. A single view, no matter how sharp, always hides part of the animal. By photographing the same individual from several standardized positions — typically dorsal, lateral, ventral, and often additional diagnostic views — the plate reveals the full three-dimensional form. Scale, proportions, surface texture, colour patterns, and fine morphological characters become visible together. This approach turns a set of images into a reliable visual description of the specimen.
This level of documentation has been rare until now. While many species have been photographed, most images are opportunistic, uneven in quality, or limited to one or two angles. Very few projects have systematically produced museum-grade, multi-view plates of the same individual under controlled conditions. As a result, the external anatomy of countless species — especially small insects, amphibians, and other less charismatic groups — remains incompletely recorded in the visual record.
High-quality multi-angle plates matter because they create a durable baseline. In a time of rapid biodiversity loss, many species may disappear before they are fully studied. A precise visual record preserves information that would otherwise be lost, supports taxonomic work, aids identification, and gives future scientists a clear reference long after the living animal is gone.
4,939 ID Plates- since 2015
This growing archive already represents years of fieldwork and careful studio documentation across many groups of life. Yet it remains only a first step. With millions of species still poorly recorded or completely undocumented, the work ahead is vast. Each new plate brings us closer to a lasting visual record of biodiversity before more of it disappears.
We will continue this work regardless. At the present pace, the collection may reach around 25,000 plates in a lifetime. With financial support, however, the scale can change dramatically. More resources mean more trained people, more field capacity, and a much faster rate of documentation — potentially reaching hundreds of thousands of plates, or even Millions...
Life in Every Form
Insect
Plant
Reptile
Wasps display an extraordinary variety of forms and colours. Detailed plates showing dorsal, lateral, and other views make it possible to examine wing venation, body sculpture, and diagnostic characters with clarity.
Orchids are one of the largest families of flowering plants, with striking floral diversity. Comprehensive plates showing flowers, leaves, and growth habit provide a complete visual record of species that are often rare or difficult to observe.
Snakes are a highly diverse group of reptiles with more than 3,900 known species. Multi-angle plates of the same individual allow careful study of head shape, scalation, and colour pattern — features essential for accurate identification.
Fungus
Insect
Fungi form one of the major kingdoms of life, essential to ecosystems as decomposers and symbionts. Many species are ephemeral and easily overlooked. Precise multi-view plates capture their shape, texture, and structure before they disappear.
Ants are among the most successful and ecologically important insects on the planet. High-resolution plates of different castes, such as queens, reveal fine morphological details that support identification and comparative study.
Mammal
Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. With more than 1,400 species, they represent one of the most diverse groups of mammals on Earth. High-quality multi-angle plates allow us to document the delicate facial structures, wing membranes, and external characters that are often difficult to observe in the field.
Fish
Fish represent the most diverse group of vertebrates. Clear plates from several angles reveal body shape, fin structure, and colouration, creating a useful visual reference for species that are often hard to photograph comprehensively in their natural environment.
Reptile
Crocodilians are among the largest and most ancient living reptiles. Detailed visual documentation of their scalation, head shape, and body form provides a lasting reference for species that are often hard to examine closely in the wild.
Bird
The images shown on this website are reduced versions (approximately 2–2.5 megapixels) for practical viewing. The original ID plates in the database are created at much higher resolution, typically between 150 and 400 megapixels, and contain significantly more detail than what can be displayed here.
Birds are among the most visible and studied animals, yet fine details of plumage, bill shape, and feet are not always well documented. Multi-view plates preserve these characters in high resolution for reference and comparison.