intrepid explorers

a committee of scientists just released the top 10 new species of 2008. i love that there are so many new things in this world. but don't take my word for it:

"Most people do not realize just how incomplete our knowledge of Earth's species is," said Quentin Wheeler, director of the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University, which announced the top 10 new species list.

"We are surrounded by such an exuberance of species diversity that we too often take it for granted," Wheeler added.

preach it.


in 2007 scientists found 18,516 new species! quick break down:

invertebrate animals 75.6 %
vascular plants 11.1 %
vertebrates 6.7%

"It is estimated that the approximately 1.8 million species named since 1758 represent no more than a fraction of the world's species," the report states.