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Pan-Species Listing: How to Become a Super-Naturalist
Pan-species listing is a brilliant method to keep track of a lifetime of natural history sightings. A personal list, not just of birds but including every moth, beetle, lichen, sea-spider, liverwort, fungus, slime mould, cetacean… anything and everything, all the species you’ve seen. The list is maintained as part of an online community, following your progress in a fun and gently competitive way.
But pan-species listing is not just a game; it generates huge amounts of good quality biological data, while providing a framework for the next generation of naturalists to become experts themselves. This book reveals why the approach was dreamt up, as well as how to do it, what the benefits are and how you too can realise them. The 37 taxonomic classes used on the Pan-Species Listing website each have a section showing which texts, websites, equipment, online groups and information are needed to get started. Along with a detailed section on biological recording and fieldcraft, they make this a very handy guide for those that don’t necessarily want to list.
Altogether this is a crucial text for navigating the world of natural history and biological recording in the twenty-first century. The book is suitable for anyone who wishes to take part in pan-species listing but also those with an interest in biological recording, natural history, fieldwork and fieldcraft, bioblitzes, survey and monitoring, conservation ecology, record handling and analysing large lists of species.
But pan-species listing is not just a game; it generates huge amounts of good quality biological data, while providing a framework for the next generation of naturalists to become experts themselves. This book reveals why the approach was dreamt up, as well as how to do it, what the benefits are and how you too can realise them. The 37 taxonomic classes used on the Pan-Species Listing website each have a section showing which texts, websites, equipment, online groups and information are needed to get started. Along with a detailed section on biological recording and fieldcraft, they make this a very handy guide for those that don’t necessarily want to list.
Altogether this is a crucial text for navigating the world of natural history and biological recording in the twenty-first century. The book is suitable for anyone who wishes to take part in pan-species listing but also those with an interest in biological recording, natural history, fieldwork and fieldcraft, bioblitzes, survey and monitoring, conservation ecology, record handling and analysing large lists of species.
416 pages, Paperback
Published April 21, 2026
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March 10, 2026
I may come back to this review in the future. These are my initial thoughts.
This is really two narratives in one book - pan-species listing and the author's reflections on his neurodivergence. Obviously there is a clear link between the two, and most if not all pan-species listers are likely to have autism or ADHD. But I think the marketing of the book doesn't spell out how much personal stuff there is in the book.
If you are unsure of whether to get into pan-listing the answer is probably no you shouldn't. You need to spend thousands on equipment and books to do it well, and be prepared to kill thousands of creatures to identify them. This includes then in many cases examining their genitals under microscopes. At one point the would be beetle lister is advised to beat a dead animal like a piñata over a tray to see what parasites drop out. Several of the biggest pan-listers have admitted to seeing pubic lice (their own presumably) as part of their totals. It's not for everyone.
That said for the general naturalist reader it's an extremely well researched and well written summary of the hundreds of different families of animals that can be seen in Britain. This includes excellent literature reviews that point you at the best works for identification. There is also extensive advice on how to see different animal groups.
One particular point I found odd was the stress that pan-species listing isn't competitive, yet at times there is detail on who has seen the most species when it isn't really relevant. I'm reminded of parkrun, which is also apparently not competitive (it's a run not a race). In both cases I think the keenest exponents basically are competitive.
Please don't let any of the above put you off. It's an extremely good read by a very knowledgeable and lucid author. I'm just not sure whether it will succeed in encouraging more people to do pan-species listing, and may well put some people off...
This is really two narratives in one book - pan-species listing and the author's reflections on his neurodivergence. Obviously there is a clear link between the two, and most if not all pan-species listers are likely to have autism or ADHD. But I think the marketing of the book doesn't spell out how much personal stuff there is in the book.
If you are unsure of whether to get into pan-listing the answer is probably no you shouldn't. You need to spend thousands on equipment and books to do it well, and be prepared to kill thousands of creatures to identify them. This includes then in many cases examining their genitals under microscopes. At one point the would be beetle lister is advised to beat a dead animal like a piñata over a tray to see what parasites drop out. Several of the biggest pan-listers have admitted to seeing pubic lice (their own presumably) as part of their totals. It's not for everyone.
That said for the general naturalist reader it's an extremely well researched and well written summary of the hundreds of different families of animals that can be seen in Britain. This includes excellent literature reviews that point you at the best works for identification. There is also extensive advice on how to see different animal groups.
One particular point I found odd was the stress that pan-species listing isn't competitive, yet at times there is detail on who has seen the most species when it isn't really relevant. I'm reminded of parkrun, which is also apparently not competitive (it's a run not a race). In both cases I think the keenest exponents basically are competitive.
Please don't let any of the above put you off. It's an extremely good read by a very knowledgeable and lucid author. I'm just not sure whether it will succeed in encouraging more people to do pan-species listing, and may well put some people off...
Displaying 1 of 1 review