🐛 16,000 new species discovered every year: a record!

Every year, scientists add thousands of new names to the great book of life.

This momentum was initiated by the work of Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus, who laid the foundations of modern classification three centuries ago. Today, a study led by the University of Arizona and published in Science Advances confirms that this quest is proceeding at a record pace. Between 2015 and 2020, over 16,000 new species were officially described each year, a figure showing no sign of slowing down.


This acceleration is particularly visible in certain groups. The researchers estimate that the total number of fish species could approach 115,000, while only 42,000 are currently catalogued. Similarly, projections for amphibians indicate a potential of 41,000 species, far beyond the 9,000 known to date. John Wiens, professor and lead author of the study, specifies that these thousands of annual discoveries include a great diversity of organisms, from insects and plants to vertebrates.

At the same time, identification methods are constantly evolving and opening new perspectives. Currently, most new species are recognized based on their visible characteristics. However, molecular tools are developing and will soon enable the discovery of so-called 'cryptic' species, which are indistinguishable without genetic analysis. This approach promises discoveries particularly among bacteria and fungi.


Beyond mere scientific curiosity, this active documentation has very concrete implications. A species must first be officially described before it can be protected. Furthermore, the discovery of new organisms offers potential resources for medicine and technology, such as certain drugs inspired by animals or materials designed by mimicking natural capabilities.

For the future, researchers wish to map the geographical areas where undiscovered biodiversity is likely the greatest. They are also interested in the profile of the scientists making these discoveries, observing if the work is gradually shifting towards researchers studying the fauna and flora of their own regions.

This colossal work, begun 300 years ago, is far from over, and each new species helps us better understand the richness of life on Earth.

Modern taxonomy: naming to understand

Taxonomy is the science of classifying living beings. It was profoundly transformed by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century with the introduction of the binomial nomenclature system, which assigns each species a name composed of two parts, like *Homo sapiens*. This universal system allows scientists worldwide to refer precisely to the same species.

This work of classification is based on the meticulous observation of morphological characteristics, such as leaf shape for plants or wing structure for insects. Taxonomists compare these traits to establish relationships and organize life into nested categories: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and finally species.

Today, taxonomy increasingly incorporates genetic data. DNA analysis allows the confirmation or correction of classifications based solely on appearance, sometimes revealing that what was considered a single species actually hides several. This evolution makes the mapping of biodiversity more precise and reliable.

This discipline is fundamental because it constitutes the first step of any biological study. Without a name and a place in the tree of life, it is impossible to protect a species, study its ecology, or evaluate its role in an ecosystem. It lays the essential foundation of our knowledge of nature.