Classifying the Diversity of Life
Diversity is a hallmark of life.
Biologists have so far identified and named about
1.8 million species.
To date, this diversity of life is known to include at
least 100,000 species of fungi; 290,000 plant
species; 57,000 vertebrate species (animals with
backbones); and 1 million insect species (more
than half of all known forms of life).
Researchers identify thousands of additional
species each year.