Integrated Taxonomic Information System - Our Impact

ITIS plays a critical role in managing introduced and invasive non-native species, regulating trade of organisms, and managing America's fish and wildlife because trusted taxonomic data underpins these efforts. Without our authoritative scientific names and scientifically robust taxonomy decision-makers and regulators are left to operate with gaps in taxonomic knowledge that can lead to costly environmental, health, and economic consequences.

ITIS is a powerful example of interagency collaboration in action. By integrating taxonomic expertise across multiple federal partners, ITIS ensures consistent, science-based classification and streamlines information sharing across agencies. Without this centralized system, individual agencies would be forced to build and maintain separate taxonomic databases - leading to duplication, inefficiency, and gaps in critical knowledge. ITIS was formed because an accurate, up-to-date taxonomy increases the value of science and is essential to stopping the spread of harmful species, managing wildlife, and supporting effective, coordinated government actions.