[API-users] How to request complete taxonomic classification data for a taxon using GBIF web services?

[Geoff Shuetrim]

I am new to the GBIF web services but have had some experience using the
web services exposed by ITIS, WoRMS and the Atlas of Living Australia. I
have a number of questions that this mailing list may be able to assist
with.  I will send each question in a separate email to make it easier to
follow threads in case that becomes important.  If appropriate, please just
respond by directing me to the relevant web-services documentation (to date
I have been working from http://www.gbif.org/developer/species and
http://www.gbif.org/developer/occurrence).

My first question is how to request all available taxonomic classification
data for a taxon using GBIF web services?

For example, from Atlas of Living Australia web services, a request for
that information for the species *Ecsenius bicolor* yields:

kingdom: Animalia
phylum: Chordata
subphylum: Vertebrata
class: Actinopterygii
superorder: Acanthopterygii
order: Perciformes
suborder: Blennioidei
family: Blenniidae
genus: Ecsenius
species: Ecsenius bicolor

>From ITIS, I get the somewhat more detailed:

kingdom:Animalia
subkingdom:Bilateria
infrakingdom:Deuterostomia
phylum:Chordata
subphylum:Vertebrata
infraphylum:Gnathostomata
superclass:Osteichthyes
class:Actinopterygii
subclass:Neopterygii
infraclass:Teleostei
superorder:Acanthopterygii
order:Perciformes
suborder:Blennioidei
family:Blenniidae
genus:Ecsenius
species:Ecsenius bicolor

I can currently get the kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and
species from GBIF but I cannot get ranks like subphylum and superorder etc.

I have found an enumeration of taxonomic ranks within GBIF suggesting that
such ranks are supported:
http://gbif.github.io/gbif-api/apidocs/org/gbif/api/vocabulary/Rank.html

However, it is not clear to me how to access this information using the
GBIF web services.

Any pointers in the right direction would be very helpful.

Many thanks

Geoff Shuetrim
Gaia Guide Association
http://www.gaiaguide.info/
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