Number of identified species in the World

Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the occurrence of different types of ecosystems, different species of organisms with the whole range of their variants (biotypes) and genes adapted to different climates, environments along with their interactions and processes. The concept of biodiversity first appeared in 1980. Biological diversity differs from place to place. It is so because environmental conditions of the area as well as the range of tolerance of the species determine whether or not a particular species survive in that area.

The most interesting aspect of biodiversity is that more than 70% of all species are animals while plants account for only 22%. Amongst animals, insects are the most numerous (about 70%). The number of fungi species in the world is more than the combined total of the species of fishes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. New species are being discovered faster than 15000/year due to projects like Global Biodiversity Information Facility and Species 2000.
                                    

Group
Number of species
1
Viruses
1,550
2
Bacteria/ Cyanobacteria
4,000
3
Algae
40,000
4
Fungi
72,000
5
Protozoa
40,000
6
Higher Plants
2,70,000
7
Nematodes and Worms
25,000
8
Molluscs
70,000
9
Crustaceans
43,000
10
Insects
10,25,000
11
Amphibians
4,780
12
Fish
26,959
13
Reptiles
7,150
14
Birds
9,700
15
Mammals
4,650
16
Others
1,10,000
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