IUCN
Animals
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Auth
apiKey
HTTPS
No
CORS
No
Common Use Cases
- •Display random animal images and facts in web or mobile applications
- •Build educational content for biology and nature platforms
- •Add engaging pet-related features to social apps
Integration Guide
Review the API Documentation
Visit the official IUCN documentation to understand available endpoints, request formats, and response structures. Familiarize yourself with the API's rate limits and usage policies before integration.
Obtain an API Key
IUCN requires an API key for authentication. Register on the provider's website to get your unique key. Keep it secure and never expose it in client-side code — use environment variables or a backend proxy.
Note: No HTTPS Support
IUCN does not currently support HTTPS. Be cautious when transmitting sensitive data. Consider using a backend proxy with HTTPS to add a security layer for your users.
No CORS — Use a Backend Proxy
IUCN does not support CORS. To use it in a browser-based app, set up a backend proxy server that forwards requests to the API and returns the response with appropriate CORS headers.
Implement and Test
Write your API integration code, start with a simple test request to verify connectivity. Implement proper error handling for network failures, rate limits, and invalid responses. Monitor your API usage to stay within any limits.
Code Examples
JavaScript / Fetch API:
// JavaScript example (with API key)
const apiKey = process.env.API_KEY; // Store your key securely
fetch("http://apiv3.iucnredlist.org/api/v3/docs", {
headers: {
"Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
// Or use: "X-API-Key": apiKey
// Check the docs for the correct header format
}
})
.then(response => {
if (!response.ok) {
throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
}
return response.json();
})
.then(data => {
console.log("API response:", data);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error("Error fetching from IUCN:", error);
});Python / Requests:
# Python example (with API key)
import requests
import os
api_key = os.environ.get("API_KEY") # Store your key securely
headers = {
"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
# Or use: "X-API-Key": api_key
}
response = requests.get("http://apiv3.iucnredlist.org/api/v3/docs", headers=headers)
if response.status_code == 200:
data = response.json()
print("API response:", data)
else:
print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")