What is Klados?

Klados is a community-oriented taxonomy platform that provides both a free repository of morphological data and a modern interface for creating and sharing flowchart-style identification guides modelled after traditional resources called "dichotomous keys".

Disclaimer: Klados is currently in early alpha. Generated guides and/or taxon descriptions may contain errors and should be reviewed before acceptance.

What *isn't* Klados?

Klados is not an observational platform like iNaturalist, nor is it a formal taxonomic database like ITIS or GBIF. Its primary focus is on providing tools for identification and learning, rather than data collection or taxonomic authority.

Furthermore, Klados is not intended to replace traditional dichotomous keys, or other established identification resources. Instead, Klados provides a community-driven alternative that emphasizes collaboration, accessibility, and ease of use.

Klados should not be used to host or digitize copyrighted materials, including verbatim descriptions and dichotomous keys, without explicit permission from the original author(s).

Our Mission

Klados was created with the idea of free, equitable access to learning resources for anyone seeking to learn to identify organisms. Dichotomous keys for many fields are often hard to obtain, and are written in a jargon-heavy, inaccessible fashion which discourages newcomers to the field and ultimately hinders community contribution to science. Klados addresses this with an intuitive, modern alternative to traditional keys, accessible to all audiences.

Meet the Founder

Hi there! My name is Ethan Saso, and I'm a full-stack developer with a lifelong passion for naturalism. I originally created Klados under a different name, 'TaxoKeys', in my last semester of college as my first web development project. Once I'd picked up more experience from my career, I decided to return and rebuild the platform from the ground up as Klados, with a focus on community contribution and open science.

I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2024 with a degree in Molecular Environmental Biology and Computer Science. I previously led the university's Mycological Society and have been an active member of the bay area mycological community for many years. In my free time, I dabble in extreme macro photography of tiny organisms like insects, fungi, and slime molds, which you can view over on my iNaturalist.

You can also find me on LinkedIn.