# Expand the Similar Species tab into an editable identification guide

**URL:** <https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/expand-the-similar-species-tab-into-an-editable-identification-guide/13890>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Created:** [June 30, 2020, 11:58am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/expand-the-similar-species-tab-into-an-editable-identification-guide/13890 "2020-06-30T11:58:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 62

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![escol](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/escol/32/43917_2.png) [@escol](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/escol)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/expand-the-similar-species-tab-into-an-editable-identification-guide/13890/62 "2025-07-26T21:17:23Z")

</div>

Great source of discussion here:  
[https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/where-do-we-share-how-to-id-species/67932?u=escol](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/where-do-we-share-how-to-id-species/67932)

> [@Where do we share how to ID species?](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/where-do-we-share-how-to-id-species/67932/1):
>
> Wikipedia basically never has information about how to separate and identify insect species and insect groups–and even when there are descriptions, the species-level descriptions are usually vague and only describe the genus or family. I imagine the situation is pretty similar for other types of organisms. Would it be appropriate for us to add this information to Wikipedia for iNat users, or share it somewhere else?

Ultimately the often suggested Wikipedia is not good (nor any other existing options). People suggest implementing a new resource focused highly on the ID guide aspect, and it’s still not clear what iNat really wants or doesn’t want to implement (although maybe we will know soon..?).

> [@Where do we share how to ID species?](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/where-do-we-share-how-to-id-species/67932/7):
>
> …Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a field guide. You can’t add things like identification keys and schematic diagrams showing people how to ID organisms. It’s not what Wikipedia is for

> [@Where do we share how to ID species?](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/where-do-we-share-how-to-id-species/67932/22):
>
> it is against the editing guidelines to add guidebook style identification information such as ID tips to Wikipedia pages. The WP:NOTGUIDE policy ([here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:What_Wikipedia_is_not#Wikipedia_is_not_a_manual,_guidebook,_textbook,_or_scientific_journal))

---

_[View the full topic](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/expand-the-similar-species-tab-into-an-editable-identification-guide/13890)._