rcites
rcites is a free R package for retrieving information from the Species+ database through the Species+/CITES Checklist API.
What rcites is
rcites is a free R package for retrieving information from the Species+ database through the Species+/CITES Checklist API. Its functions retrieve Species+ taxon concepts and identifiers, CITES legislation, and EU legislation. The package can also return taxon distributions and listing references. 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. The documentation includes a vignette for 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 states that it depends on R version 3.1.0 or later. The documentation points users to the Species+ Data Terms and Conditions of Use and links to GitHub for bug reports. It is listed for Linux; its free plan provides Species+ data access through the API, subject to the personal token requirement.
Good
- Retrieves taxon, legislation, distribution, and listing data.
- Includes a vignette for querying multiple species.
- Available from CRAN and GitHub.
- Free and MIT-licensed.
Watch out
- Requires a personal API token.
- Depends on R version 3.1.0 or later.
- Listed for Linux.
Who it suits
rcites suits R users who need Species+ taxon, legislation, distribution, or listing-reference data through the API. It requires a personal authentication token and R version 3.1.0 or later.
Verdict
rcites provides a focused way to retrieve Species+ data from R, including legislation and taxon information. Users need a personal token and should review the Species+ data terms.
Plans and prices
From rcites's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| rcites (open-source R package) | Free | Access to Species+ data via its API; personal authentication token required |
The facts
Each one read from rcites's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Authentication
- A personal authentication token is required to connect to the Species+/CITES Checklist API.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Bulk queries
- The documentation provides a vignette describing package use for querying multiple species.checked 4 Oct 2026
- CITES legislation
- The spp_cites_legislation() function retrieves CITES legislation data.checked 4 Oct 2026
- EU legislation
- The spp_eu_legislation() function retrieves EU legislation data.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Install sources
- The stable version is available from CRAN and the development version from GitHub.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The package is released under the MIT license.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Other data
- The package can retrieve taxon distribution data and listing reference data.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- rcites is an R package for accessing information from the Species+ database through the Species+/CITES Checklist API.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Runtime requirement
- The CRAN listing states that rcites depends on R version 3.1.0 or later.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Species data
- The spp_taxonconcept() function retrieves Species+ taxon concept information and taxon identifiers.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project documentation links to GitHub for bug reports.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Terms
- The package documentation directs users to the Species+ Data Terms and Conditions of Use.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
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