# Paradoxical obs **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [October 23, 2026, 10:42am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/paradoxical-obs/87161 "2026-10-23T10:42:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aaravmishra](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/aaravmishra/32/33901_2.png) [@aaravmishra](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/aaravmishra)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 10:42am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/paradoxical-obs/87161/1 "2026-10-23T10:42:16Z")
idk whether this belongs in general or nature talk but: I observe a caterpillar till adulthood. Two arguments: 1. I should upload them as ONE observation, since it was a single organism. 2. I should upload separate obs. for each day, since the date is different and also the life stage. What would you do? The “life history paradox” PS: wow, how have I never sene this before?: ![Screenshot 2026-10-23 at 4.12.52 pm](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/2/f/2f83ffb33ac297b26f760f0be46c14fd2d60d6b8.png) ---
**Author:** ![lnlcflx](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/lnlcflx/32/57021_2.png) [@lnlcflx](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/lnlcflx)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 11:03am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/paradoxical-obs/87161/2 "2026-10-23T11:03:25Z")
There are many posts about this question: - [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/using-the-field-similar-observation-set-for-linking-observations-of-lepidoptera-when-raising-on/1018](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/using-the-field-similar-observation-set-for-linking-observations-of-lepidoptera-when-raising-on/1018) - [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/uploading-observations-of-the-same-individual-over-time/2956](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/uploading-observations-of-the-same-individual-over-time/2956) - … The consensus seems to be 2: New day = new observation ---
**Author:** ![texas\_nature\_family](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/texas_nature_family/32/65299_2.png) [@texas\_nature\_family](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/texas_nature_family)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 11:28am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/paradoxical-obs/87161/3 "2026-10-23T11:28:48Z")
I agree, different day is a new obs. Same as any other repeat observation ---
**Author:** ![cthawley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/cthawley/32/1445_2.png) [@cthawley](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/cthawley)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 12:03pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/paradoxical-obs/87161/4 "2026-10-23T12:03:49Z")
I moved this to “General”. I agree with others, this should be a separate observation each time you interact with the individual (general recommendation is 1 observation/day unless something serious changes like metamorphosis, predation, etc.). You can link the observations via comments/notes or observation fields. I am not sure how this situation is a paradox though, so it might be better to have a more descriptive title. ---
**Author:** ![jorenvanschie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jorenvanschie/32/75023_2.png) [@jorenvanschie](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jorenvanschie)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 12:16pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/paradoxical-obs/87161/5 "2026-10-23T12:16:50Z")
There is no paradox here. iNaturalist is for uploading **observations** of organisms. The organism may still be the same but the observation, even one minute later, is different, hence the importance of being as precise as possible on the date and time of the observation. You can link observations of the same individual to each other by placing a URL in the ‘Notes’ section or as a comment, which is especially cool if you have been observing the same individual in different life stages, but the differences in life stage by definition show that we are talking about different observations, which in this case happen to be of the same individual. Edit: As I was typing @cthawley also placed a reply in the meantime with almost the same ideas and wording so my reply may have become redundant. ---
**Author:** ![texas\_nature\_family](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/texas_nature_family/32/65299_2.png) [@texas\_nature\_family](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/texas_nature_family)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 12:18pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/paradoxical-obs/87161/6 "2026-10-23T12:18:44Z")
@aaravmishra Yes, you can do it like @connlindajo and her redbud [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?taxon\_id=48502&user\_id=connlindajo&verifiable=any](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?taxon_id=48502&user_id=connlindajo&verifiable=any) ---
**Author:** ![jorenvanschie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jorenvanschie/32/75023_2.png) [@jorenvanschie](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jorenvanschie)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/paradoxical-obs/87161/7 "2026-10-23T12:22:57Z")
Wow, what a great series that is! By just a quick scroll through the photos, we can see that it consistently flowers precisely in March across the many years! Brilliant example.