Only a small fraction of all living organisms on earth is recognized. Instead of the official count of 1.2 million, there are 8.7 million species of plants and animals. This research presented in the science journal PLoS Biology is the most accurate calculation ever presented. According to the results of the study there are 7.77 million animal species, but only 954,434 of them are described. Of the 295,000 plant species 215,644 are classified. 86% of the species on Earth, and 91% in the ocean, still await description.

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