# Missing taxa with filtering observations?

**URL:** <https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/missing-taxa-with-filtering-observations/26278>\
**Category:** General\
**Tags:** question\
**Created:** [September 12, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/missing-taxa-with-filtering-observations/26278 "2021-09-12T14:18:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![smmcdonald](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/smmcdonald/32/5141_2.png) [@smmcdonald](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/smmcdonald)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/missing-taxa-with-filtering-observations/26278/1 "2021-09-12T14:18:06Z")

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Why are certain taxa missing from observation filters? For example, sharks and rays are not present when filtering ‘your observations’ by ‘fish’. In addition, some do not have any preset filter options at all, e.g. corals, gorgonians, etc. More curious about the former, as it seems like an error rather than just a missing feature.

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**Author:** ![thebeachcomber](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/thebeachcomber/32/12748_2.png) [@thebeachcomber](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/thebeachcomber)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2021, 2:41pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/missing-taxa-with-filtering-observations/26278/2 "2021-09-12T14:41:01Z")

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welcome to the forum :)

> [@smmcdonald](#):
>
> For example, sharks and rays are not present when filtering ‘your observations’ by ‘fish’.

> [@smmcdonald](#):
>
> seems like an error rather than just a missing feature.

This is not an error; the ‘fishes’ filter is for ray-finned fishes, i.e., the class Actinopterygii, whereas sharks + rays are a class of their own, Elasmobranchii.

> [@smmcdonald](#):
>
> In addition, some do not have any preset filter options at all

Those preset filters are not designed to be exhaustive, they’re meant to represent ‘iconic’ taxa, i.e. the ‘most famous’ coarse groupings. There are, however, a number of requests for other taxa to be included in these presets, e.g., [this](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/make-crustaceans-and-myriapods-iconic-taxa/996) and [this](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/create-iconic-taxa-for-bacteria-archaea-and-viruses/1464).

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/7/7831452cf7f0d653ff1ffd34176334b7ef1b6a17.png) [@system](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2021, 2:41pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/missing-taxa-with-filtering-observations/26278/3 "2021-11-11T14:41:57Z")

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Closed on November 11, 2021, 2:41pm UTC

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