I’ve recently seen a case where an observer posted an observation with a species-level ID, but an identifier suggested an alternative ID that completely superceded the original. The original ID is not even shown (here is the observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53186850 ). This seems…

[image] kjudge: I would have thought that the original ID and the dissenting second ID would have combined to settle on a consensus taxonomic level I think it is at the consensus taxonomic level, looking at the taxon pages.

It definitely is now, but only because I’ve entered an ID since. The student’s original ID isn’t there. Interestingly, I’ve looked through a few of the dissenting IDer’s other identifications, and in every one they seem to be the first ID, and they seem to be interested in posts of participants with…

[image] kjudge: in every one they seem to be the first ID I’d guess that user is identifying unknown observations , where the poster didn’t add an ID when they uploaded their observation(s). Are you sure this particular observation had an ID to begin with?

[image] thomaseverest: Are you sure this particular observation had an ID to begin with? It’s possible that the student entered their id in a glitched way, such as by a mistyping, and the typed label became a “placeholder” on what turns into an “Unknown” record. That can happen occasionally (…

Thanks thomaseverest and lotteryd, I checked with the student and they did have some connection issues at the time of uploading. Your explanation seems likely. We may delete the record and repost it to correct the error. I have done some acoustic analysis of the recording and will pass a spectrogram…

[image] kjudge: We may delete the record and repost it to correct the error. Why would reposting be necessary? The observer can still put their ID on the existing observation and add additional pictures if desired.

My research program is partly focused on filling in the distribution of this little known group of insects. As such, having this record - particularly as an audio recording - actually show up as C. monstrosa is important for showing the naturalist community where they might see (or hear) these insec…

Oh, I think you want to opt out of the community taxon. Then the ID will show up as whatever the observer says it is, regardless of what other people suggest.

I didn’t even know that that was possible. Huh, learn something new every day. Thanks arboretum_amy!

Given the community aspect of iNat, opting out is rather frowned upon, but I can see why you would want it in this case. It can only be done on one’s own observations, so janinevanderlinden will have to do it. The button is hard to find. [Capture.PNG]

Observer's original ID not visible

General

schoenitz July 19, 2020, 6:52am 17

It has been brought up before. To no effect, unfortunately. Perhaps it’s time to bring it up again.

Topic		Replies	Views
Initial Identification General question	13	944	January 9, 2023
Why does my id change Bug Reports ios-classic-app	10	1118	April 19, 2019
Problems with wrong suggestions General	30	3469	May 6, 2020
Emphasize that it is OK not to know the correct ID Feature Requests	22	1006	March 6, 2025
Changing of ID from specific species to higher taxa General	29	1412	December 18, 2019

Observer's original ID not visible

Related topics