rcites
What it is
rcites is a free R package for retrieving Species+ information through the Species+/CITES Checklist API. Its spp_taxonconcept() function gets taxon concept details and identifiers, while spp_cites_legislation() and spp_eu_legislation() retrieve CITES and EU legislation data. The package can also access taxon distribution and listing reference data. Connecting to the API requires a personal authentication token. Users can store the token in the SPECIESPLUS_TOKEN environment variable, set it interactively with set_token(), or pass it to each function call. Documentation includes a vignette on querying multiple species. The stable version is available from CRAN, with a development version on GitHub. rcites is released under the MIT license, and the CRAN listing says it requires R version 3.1.0 or later. The documentation points users to Species+ Data Terms and Conditions of Use and links to GitHub for bug reports. The listed plan is free and provides access to Species+ data through its API, subject to the token requirement.
For and against
For
- Retrieves taxon, legislation, distribution, and listing data.
- Supports bulk queries through a documented vignette.
- Stable version is available from CRAN.
- Released under the MIT license.
Against
- Requires a personal API authentication token.
- Requires R version 3.1.0 or later.
The verdict
rcites provides Species+ API access from R, with functions for several species data types and a documented approach to bulk queries. Users need to arrange a personal token and follow the Species+ terms of use.
Who it suits
rcites is for R users who need Species+ taxon, legislation, distribution, or listing reference data. It may suit users querying one or multiple species who can provide an API authentication token.
Plans and prices
rcites (open-source R package)
Access to Species+ data via its API; personal authentication token required
Read 4 Oct 2026 · docs.ropensci.org
On the record
- Authentication
- A personal authentication token is required to connect to the Species+/CITES Checklist API.docs.ropensci.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Bulk queries
- The documentation provides a vignette describing package use for querying multiple species.docs.ropensci.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- CITES legislation
- The spp_cites_legislation() function retrieves CITES legislation data.docs.ropensci.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- EU legislation
- The spp_eu_legislation() function retrieves EU legislation data.docs.ropensci.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Install sources
- The stable version is available from CRAN and the development version from GitHub.docs.ropensci.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The package is released under the MIT license.docs.ropensci.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Other data
- The package can retrieve taxon distribution data and listing reference data.docs.ropensci.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- rcites is an R package for accessing information from the Species+ database through the Species+/CITES Checklist API.docs.ropensci.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Runtime requirement
- The CRAN listing states that rcites depends on R version 3.1.0 or later.cran.r-project.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Species data
- The spp_taxonconcept() function retrieves Species+ taxon concept information and taxon identifiers.docs.ropensci.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project documentation links to GitHub for bug reports.docs.ropensci.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Terms
- The package documentation directs users to the Species+ Data Terms and Conditions of Use.docs.ropensci.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Token setup
- The token can be stored in the SPECIESPLUS_TOKEN environment variable, set interactively with set_token(), or passed to each function call.docs.ropensci.org · read 4 Oct 2026
