Say you have an observation of a moss, but you don’t know any more than that it is a moss. Now, you can look at the leaderboard, “Top identifiers of mosses”; but all that tells you is who has made the most identifications to that level. If you’re trying to get it to species, it is no use pinging som…

post a good collection of good moss observations, and a moss expert will eventually stumble upon at least a few in the collection. then you can ask that person for help on specific observations that you need help with. i think the relationship between an observer and identifier needs to be consider…

When it comes to observation IDs patience is the key thing. Especially if you’re in a part of the world with few observers, or working with taxa that don’t have a lot of observers. It’s not at all uncommon for it to take years before you get an ID on something. I have some observations that are n…

It is best to invest some time in learning about the organisms that you are trying to identify. You can use the iNaturalist features like “Visually similar” and narrow down your list of possible IDs with location and taxonomic information. You can also “google lens” and find additional clues or lite…

[image] jasonhernandez74: Say you have an observation of a moss I work thru Unknowns for Cape Peninsula, Western Cape, and the Rest of Africa. Often my best attempted ID is … it’s a moss. But moss identifiers need me to say - here you go - some moss for you. I can also help to tease apart tha…

If the Computer Vision Model makes some promising-looking genus/species suggestions, you could always tag some leaderboard identifiers of those. Even if yours turns out not to be the computer-suggested species, the members with the knowledge to identify that species will likely also be familiar with…

I rarely tag unless there is reason for confusion or excitement… identifiers come to them or not. With most taxa in UK/Iceland( including mosses ), there tend to be identifiers who will refine/correct autosuggested IDs providing the photos are good enough. The response might not be immediate though…

I would still check the leader boards, but I would click on the names and read the profiles looking for someone who outright claims some expertise in the taxon you’re interested in. If you have an idea of which Genus it is, then tag someone on that leader board, even if you’re wrong on the Genus, i…

When it comes to learning more about a taxon as some people suggested (and being a layman in Biology in general), I often do this: Go to Moss taxon page (the Bryophyta Phylum). On the tabs with the classification right under the header you have Life > Plants > Mosses and a down arrow. Click that t…

I can relate to this question, since I don’t know mosses at all but want to learn! What I do is buy some actual, physical, on-paper field guides to whatever taxa I’m interested in learning and read through them. If I’m lucky, I can find a class or field trip to learn in person. That way I have an i…

[image] gs5: It is best to invest some time in learning about the organisms that you are trying to identify. Yep, I agree. Waiting for someone else to suggest a species can mean having to wait for a good long while if there is no expert in your area. I bought two field guides on mosses, start…

Effective ways to get ID help

General

Topic		Replies	Views
Etiquette/Method for Finding Identifiers? General	27	1295	September 3, 2025
Little interaction by the community General question	58	4729	January 17, 2022
What if nobody IDs your observation? General question	38	5441	August 26, 2020
Waiting for ID`s General	51	1479	December 24, 2025
Ways that users can start identifying easily General	66	3149	January 31, 2023

Effective ways to get ID help

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