# Synonyms API seems to be buggy

**URL:** https://discourse.gbif.org/t/synonyms-api-seems-to-be-buggy/6189
**Category:** API developers
**Created:** [December 29, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://discourse.gbif.org/t/synonyms-api-seems-to-be-buggy/6189 "2025-12-29T16:17:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Seiz2805](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Seiz2805](https://discourse.gbif.org/u/Seiz2805)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://discourse.gbif.org/t/synonyms-api-seems-to-be-buggy/6189/1 "2025-12-29T16:17:10Z")

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Hi everyone !

I recently tried to use the API of synonyms through this endpoint as suggested in the docs https://**[api.gbif.org/v1](http://api.gbif.org/v1)**/ **species** / **SPECIES\_ID** /\*\*synonyms  
\*\*  
However, I personally don’t get all the results.

Indeed, I did a test with Branta canadensis by taking the related id and lauch the endpoint (with the associated ID 5232437) and expected to find Anas canadensis, as on a classic match request with “Anas canadensis” I was finding it with the status “SYNONYM” and well associated to Branta canadensis.

However I ended up with an empty list …

Do some of you know why it does that ? Or do I miss something ?

Thanks in advance for your reply 😉

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### Author: ![mgrosjean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@mgrosjean](https://discourse.gbif.org/u/mgrosjean)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2026, 12:03pm UTC](https://discourse.gbif.org/t/synonyms-api-seems-to-be-buggy/6189/2 "2026-01-05T12:03:15Z")

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Hi @Seiz2805

The API seems to be working correctly and [https://www.gbif.org/species/5232437](https://www.gbif.org/species/5232437) doesn’t have a synonym in the GBIF Backbone taxonomy.

_Anas canadensis_ is listed as synonym of the subspecies _Branta canadensis canadensis_ [https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/7191098/synonyms](https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/7191098/synonyms)

If you see examples where the API call doesn’t correspond that you can see on the website, please let us know.

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### Author: ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/gbif1/original/1X/d2525d53d815eb0c992cc44730ed8a6a1be1dbb5.png) [@system](https://discourse.gbif.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://discourse.gbif.org/t/synonyms-api-seems-to-be-buggy/6189/3 "2026-02-04T22:03:30Z")

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