diff --git a/server/routes.ts b/server/routes.ts
index 7b4e77c..2843140 100644
--- a/server/routes.ts
+++ b/server/routes.ts
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ export async function registerRoutes(app: Express): Promise<Server> {
       // If IUCN token is provided, try to validate it
       if (tokenData.iucnToken) {
         try {
-          await axios.get("https://apiv4.iucnredlist.org/api/v4/version", {
-            headers: {
-              "Authorization": `Bearer ${tokenData.iucnToken}`
+          await axios.get("https://api.iucnredlist.org/api/v4/information/api_version", {
+            params: {
+              token: tokenData.iucnToken
             }
           });
           iucnValid = true;
@@ -324,8 +324,8 @@ export async function registerRoutes(app: Express): Promise<Server> {
       try {
         // Check if the API is working by hitting the version endpoint
         const response = await axios.get("https://api.iucnredlist.org/api/v4/information/api_version", {
-          headers: {
-            "Authorization": `Bearer ${iucnToken}`
+          params: {
+            token: iucnToken
           }
         });
         
@@ -401,10 +401,8 @@ export async function registerRoutes(app: Express): Promise<Server> {
       try {
         // Use the v4 API with scientific name endpoint
         const response = await axios.get("https://api.iucnredlist.org/api/v4/taxa/scientific_name", {
-          headers: {
-            "Authorization": `Bearer ${iucnToken}`
-          },
           params: {
+            token: iucnToken,
             genus_name: genusName,
             species_name: speciesName || ""
           }