How Many Species of Organisms Have Been Described on Earth?

About how many species of organisms (that is, all life on Earth) have been described?

1) 5.5 million

2) 27.6 million

3) 1.7 million

4) 10.2 million

Final answer: Scientists estimate that there are about 8.7 million eukaryotic species on Earth, with only 1.5 million identified and studied.

Answer:

Scientists estimate that there are about 8.7 million eukaryotic species on Earth, with only 1.5 million identified, named, and studied.

The world is such a fascinating place with a diverse range of organisms inhabiting it. Did you know that scientists estimate there are around 8.7 million eukaryotic species on Earth? This number includes a variety of plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms.

Out of these 8.7 million species, only 1.5 million have been identified and studied by scientists. That leaves so many more species waiting to be discovered and researched!

While the number of eukaryotic species is quite large, the number of prokaryotes, which are single-celled organisms like bacteria and archaea, is even higher. The world of microorganisms is vast and largely unexplored.

Given the current rate of species description, with around 17,000 to 20,000 new species being identified each year, it would take approximately 500 years to describe all the species currently in existence. That's a lot of new discoveries waiting to happen!