How do I add a missing species to the iNaturalist database?

If a species or other taxon is missing from the iNaturalist database, first try clicking the "Search external name providers" button that appears after you search for a name and get no results. If the taxon in question shows up, select it.

You can also try alternative names that we might recognize (common names, old scientific names). 

If you don't find the name using the external name providers option, you'll have to make a taxon flag and request that the taxon be added. For example, let's say you want to add a species to the genus Astragalus.

1. Go to the taxon page for Astragalus (Use the header search to find any taxon page).
   
   
2. On the taxon page, click on "Curation", under the graphs.
   
   
3. Select "Flag for curation" from the menu.
   
   
   
4. On the flag page, make your request. Curators on iNaturalist are volunteers, so please respect their time and effort by providing a source and a reason for the taxon to be added to iNaturalist. That will help them respond to your flag in a timely manner.