Science is experiencing a historic moment: researchers describe more than 16,000 new species each year, according to a global study led by the University of Arizona and published in Science Advances.
This accelerated pace suggests that the planet’s biodiversity is much broader than previously calculated and opens both challenges and opportunities for conservation and biomedical research.
An Expanding Discovery
The study, authored by John J. Wiens, professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona, documents that until 2020, more than 16,000 species were described annually on average:
- More than 10,000 animals, mainly insects and arthropods.
- About 2,500 plants.
- Nearly 2,000 fungi.
Wiens emphasizes that the trend continues to grow: “We are finding new species at a faster rate than ever before.”
This phenomenon far exceeds the estimated number of species that go extinct each year, which is around ten. “The good news is that this discovery rate far exceeds the extinction rate,” the researcher highlighted.
Historical Trends and Differences Between Groups
The analysis reveals that only in the last two decades has the 15% of all currently known species been documented. Contrary to previous studies that placed the historical peak a century ago, the work argues that the fastest rates are recorded in this century.
The data, integrated from international databases such as Catalogue of Life, GBIF, and World Flora Online, show differences between groups:
- Arthropods and insects had discovery peaks in the early 20th century and today.
- Fungi and plants stand out for sustained increases in recent years.
- In ray-finned fish, 21% of the species described until 2020 were cataloged only between 2000 and 2020.
Future Projections
Predictive models suggest numbers far higher than those recognized:
- By 2400, there could be 2.6 million animal species.
- More than 1.4 million insects.
- About 752,000 arachnids.
- More than 500,000 plants.
- In ray-finned fish, the projection reaches 115,000 species, compared to the 33,500 described until 2020.
The authors warn that these estimates should be interpreted with caution, as they depend on the applied model and may be affected by delays in databases or synonymies.
Challenges for Taxonomy
The study points out key challenges:
- Information gaps and delays in international databases.
- Lack of resources to explore remote areas.
- Need for new molecular techniques to identify cryptic species.
- Pressure to describe species before they go extinct.
Unpredictable factors like pandemics or conflicts can also alter the pace of discovery.
Opportunities for Humanity
Each new species described provides a key piece to understanding and protecting life on the planet. Additionally, it opens opportunities for medicine and biotechnology:
- Reptile hormones like those from the Gila monster have inspired drugs for diabetes.
- Venoms from arachnids and plants are used in treatments for pain and cancer.
- Biological adaptations have inspired advanced materials, such as those based on the feet of geckos.
Wiens emphasizes: “We are still just scratching the surface of what these species can do for humanity.”
The accelerated pace of discoveries indicates that the diversity of life is much more extensive than assumed. Documenting new species is the first step toward their conservation and a reminder that science is far from exhausting its catalog of biological treasures.