OneZoom Tree of Life
All known life on Earth on one zoomable tree: about 2.2 million species, from humans to cacti, and you can dive into any single leaf.
What it is
OneZoom is an interactive tree of life. Every known species on Earth — about 2.2 million of them — is laid out on a single fractal picture you can pan and zoom like a map. Leaves are species, branches are groups, and a huge number of them carry photos, more than 105,000 in total. It's run by a UK registered charity and completely free.
Why we picked it
Evolution usually gets taught with a textbook diagram of a dozen branches. OneZoom shows the real scale: scroll in and out and watch mammals shrink to a twig next to the vast crowns of insects or flowering plants. Start at humans and zoom out to see how close we sit to chimps and how far from mushrooms. The homepage offers ready-made jumping-off points — owls, frogs, cacti, butterflies, wolves, octopuses, parrots, water lilies. Since 2024 there are also guided tours, where the tree flies you around interesting spots and explains what you're looking at. A lovely extra: you can sponsor any leaf and put your name on it, with the money supporting the project.
Where to start
- Click on humans and keep zooming out until you see the whole tree.
- Take one of the guided tours to learn how to read the layout.
- Search for your favourite animal and look at its closest relatives.
- Compare the size of the insect branch with the vertebrates.
Who it's for
Biology students and teachers, parents exploring nature with kids, and anyone who loves a good data visualisation. It works well on a big screen in a classroom, and it's the kind of site you lose half an hour in without noticing.
Quick answers
How many species are on the tree? About 2.2 million, with more than 105,000 images.
Is it free? Yes, it's run by a non-profit and everything is open to use.
Can you sponsor a leaf? Yes, sponsoring a species puts your name on its leaf and funds the project.
