Friday, January 27, 2012

New species: 19,232 of 'em

2011 count (actually 2009) is eye-opening


It takes a while to compile all the new species descriptions from all the journals worldwide, so the 2011 report covers the ones described in 2009.  It's pretty amazing.  41 living mammals (mainly rodents and bats, but some bigger ones, too). Seven new living birds.  (I have a journal article from a decade or so back that says new bird discoveries are unlikely.)  626 crustaceans.  And, of course, thousands and thousands of beetles. 

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