How many species of animals exist today, including humans?

Baloo55th

Another of those virtually impossible to answer ones, I'm afraid. And for various reasons. Firstly, they are still discovering new species of animal (mostly insects and other invertebrates, but there's that ratty looking thing they found on a market stall in Vietnam last year which turns out to belong to a group thought to have become extinct millions of years ago - Science didn't know they existed today, but the local people have been eating them for yonks). Secondly, things are becoming extinct (or thought to be extinct - see ratty thing). Thirdly, they still can't agree on which species (or even genus) some things belong to. There are two groups in the main - lumpers and splitters. Lumpers take a wide view of what a species contains. Splitters take a narrow view and split species up into new species. All of this creates confusion. There are many more animals to be discovered in jungles, ponds and even on market stalls. Apr 12 06, 4:34 AM

SanGermain

approx 2,250,000 species of animals 4,300 species of mammals (including us) 9,000 species of birds 27,000 species of fish 3,000 species of amphibians 8,000 species of reptiles 800,000 species of insects 1.4 million species of bacteria, viruses, fungi, molds and other assorted wiggly creatures. Those numbers come from the new book MINDBLOWERS. Jun 11 08, 3:11 PM

Baloo55th

I hope they haven't listed viruses, fungi and moulds as animals... Wiggly creatures, yes, but the afore-mentioned no. If they have, then regard their data as suspect until checked elsewhere. I have an inbuilt suspicion of books with titles like that. They tend to tell you that the elephant is the only mammal that can't jump, quite forgetting the sloth et al.... Jun 11 08, 3:57 PM

SanGermain

Indeed, not all scientists call bacteria, viruses, fungi etc animals. like many things, its all a matter of definition. especially in science. the other numbers hold up, though (mammals, fish, birds, reptiles etc). check out the book, too. its got some good stuff in it, and is miles better than most of similar titles of the "Amazing Facts" variety of trivia tome. Jun 11 08, 4:10 PM

McGruff

I don't think there are so many new species being discovered daily to significantly change a ballpark figure, which makes this question answerable. It doesn't ask if bacteria, viruses, fungi and molds are animals, but the answer is broken down in a way that one can decide for oneself whether or not to include those in a definition of animals. I don't see any reason to question the source unless you have differing information to offer from a source that might be considered more reliable. Off topic, but the "ratty thing" was discovered in Laos, not Vietnam. New Rodent Discovered at Asian Food Market May 16, 2005 Scientists who went shopping recently at an Asian food market got more than they bargained for — a rodent unknown to science was being sold as meat. Discovered in Laos, Southeast Asia, the animal is described as an "oddball rodent" with long whiskers, stubby legs, and a furry tail. But it isn't a squirrel, and it most certainly isn't a rat, says the researcher who first spotted the animal. Although it's been called a rock rat, the name is misleading, says Robert Timmins, of the Wildlife Conservation Society, based in New York. "It's not at all closely related to typical rats and mice," he said, adding that the description "spineless porcupine" would be more apt. The animal is believed to represent not only a new species of rodent but also the first mammal family to be discovered in 30 years. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/05/0516_050516_new_rodent.html Includes picture: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2005/2005-05-12-05.asp Jun 12 08, 9:27 AM