[tweener (OP)]

Does anyone have an estimate of the total number of species that have existed on the earth, including those that are extinct?

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John - The Eternal Pessimist.

[OldMan]

I started trying to count but ran out of fingers and toes quickly

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A prism with an intellect, you throw your light selectively.

[Kryptid]

I once read that there are over 1 million known animal species and over 300,000 plant species. I don't know if that includes extinct creatures or not. I don't know how many species of protists or monerans there are. I would wager that there have been over 10 million species on this planet.

[Exodus]

quote:Originally posted by tweener

Does anyone have an estimate of the total number of species that have existed on the earth, including those that are extinct?

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.

good luck on that one! lol!

[OmnipotentOne]

The only thing i know on that topic is that that majority of all species live in the water.



I love critisism!

[qpan]

Are you sure about only 10 million species? Insects currently on this planet make up 4-6 million species!

And remember - in terms of mass, there is more bacteria on this planet than the mass of all the humans put together- so i'd be willing to bet that there are a lot more than 10 million species - as bacteria make up another 6+ million species! I'd say about 15 million species which are on this planet now, and many more millions beofre us humans even arrived on this here blue planet!

"I have great faith in fools; self-confidence my friends call it."
-Edgar Allan Poe

[qpan]

quote:Originally posted by OmnipotentOne

The only thing i know on that topic is that that majority of all species live in the water.



I love critisism!

I dunno- apparently, there are "only" two million species of bacteria in water, whereas there are an estimated 4 million species in ur average tonne of garden soil!

"I have great faith in fools; self-confidence my friends call it."
-Edgar Allan Poe

[OmnipotentOne]

Hmm i forgot about that little known thing called basteria.  If theres that many in the dirt, then I must be devouring millions when i go to Mcdonalds!



To see the world through a grain of sand.

[neilep]

Me reckons there's a bunch of species living in my gut, my intestine, my mouth....my everything.........at least I'm not alone :-)

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'