An authoritative classification and catalogue of marine names

Odontodactylus cultrifer, author: Porter, Megan
  
Gloeotrichia echinulata, author: Moestrup, Øjvind
  
Pseudolella granulifera, author: Campinas Bezerra, Tania Nara
  
Chiton olivaceus, Italy, Giglio Island, Campese, author: Schwabe, Enrico
  
Morus bassanus - Northern Gannet, author: Chardine, John
  
WoRMS is continuously updating and strives to reflect current published scientific knowledge, without making new taxonomic decisions. The Data Management Team welcomes any feedback and suggestions for improvement. See more details and citation guidelines.

News

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Edaphobase adopts Nemys as taxonomic backbone for nematodes

Added on: 2025-10-20 10:31:57 by Dekeyzer, Stefanie
As part of a collaboration between WoRMS and Edaphobase, the World Database of Nematodes (Nemys) has been integrated as the official taxonomic backbone for Nematoda in Edaphobase. ...

Cleanup of the feedingtype attribute

Added on: 2025-08-28 11:58:09 by Dekeyzer, Stefanie
The feedingtype attribute has been split into three different attributes: (1) Ecological interactions, (2) Trophic level, and (3) Feeding method. ...

Tackling Temporary Names in WoRMS: Interim Solutions for the Taxonomic Impediment

Added on: 2025-08-07 08:01:57 by Vandepitte, Leen
This recently published paper in Marine Biodiversity formulates practical recommendations and clarification on temporary names and how they should be entered in a standardised way, not only into WoRMS but also into taxonomic databases in general. ...

Rotifer World Catalog now available through the Aphia platform

Added on: 2025-08-04 16:04:28 by Goharimanesh, Mona
Almost 20 years after the idea to „set up an individual page for every rotifer species” (2006), the Rotifer World Catalog finds a new home in Aphia, the data infrastructure behind the World Register of Marine Species. A dedicated portal was set up for these conspicuous micro-organisms, and their marine representatives are displayed through WoRMS as well. ...

Introducing the World List of Myxozoa

Added on: 2025-07-31 16:07:28 by Dekeyzer, Stefanie
Today is the launch day for the World List of Myxozoa, a Global Species Database under the umbrella of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). ...

NELOS divers use WoRMS in digital dive log: a step toward citizen science

Added on: 2025-07-23 11:22:55 by Dekeyzer, Stefanie
The Flemish diving federation NELOS vzw (Dutch-speaking League for Underwater Research and Sports) has recently integrated the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) into its internal platform DIVES — a Digital Verification System used to log tens of thousands of dives each year. ...

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Currently in WoRMS

Accepted marine species

248 845 (98% checked)


Marine species names, including synonyms

518 619


Species with image

53 481 (81% checked)