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How many species of animals are there?

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There is a vast diversity of animal species on Earth, with estimates varying across different taxonomic groups. The number of animal species is highly uncertain, with suggestions ranging from less than 2 million prokaryotic species to potentially hundreds of millions or even billions of species, primarily bacteria associated with insects and other animals . In the class Mammalia alone, there are currently 6,495 recognized species, including both extinct and extant species, showing an increase of 1,079 species in about 13 years . Estimates for beetles, insects, and terrestrial arthropods globally indicate approximately 1.5 million, 5.5 million, and 7 million species, respectively, with a large percentage yet to be discovered . The total number of animal species on Earth remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 500,000 to 100,000,000, highlighting the complexity and ongoing exploration of global biodiversity .

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Journal Article•DOI How Many Species of Insects and Other Terrestrial Arthropods Are There on Earth Nigel E. Stork 11 Jan 2018-Annual Review of Entomology 667 Citations	Approximately 1.5 million species of beetles, 5.5 million species of insects, and 7 million species of terrestrial arthropods are estimated globally, with 80% of insect species yet to be discovered.
Open access•Journal Article•DOI Vast (but avoidable) underestimation of global biodiversity. John J. Wiens 01 Aug 2021-PLOS Biology 8 Citations	The paper suggests that there are likely hundreds of millions or billions of animal species, with a significant portion being bacteria associated with insects and other animals.
Open access•Journal Article•DOI How many species of mammals are there Connor J Burgin, Jocelyn P. Colella, Philip L Kahn, Nathan S. Upham, Nathan S. Upham - Show less +4 more 01 Feb 2018-Journal of Mammalogy 622 Citations	There are 6,495 recognized species of mammals, including 96 extinct and 6,399 extant species, as per the Mammal Diversity Database. (Total: 30 words)
Open access•Journal Article•DOI How many species are there on Earth Zhigang Jiang 22 Jun 2016-Chinese Science Bulletin 48 Citations	Estimates vary, but there are around 10,000 to 35,000 species of animals such as amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, with ongoing discoveries and disagreements among taxonomists.

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