The discovery of new species worldwide is accelerating, with thousands of organisms previously undocumented by science being added each year, underscoring how limited humanity’s understanding of life on Earth still is, according to a new scientific study.
The research, titled “The past and future of known biodiversity: Rates, patterns, and projections of new species over time,” published in the journal Science Advances, December 2025 found that the rate at which new species are formally described has risen sharply over the past two decades, reaching its highest level in modern history, particularly between 2000 and 2020. The study was led by an international team of researchers including Xin Li, Ding Yang, Liang Wang, and John J. Wiens.
“Some scientists had assumed that the pace of species discovery was slowing and that we were close to finding everything,” said John J. Wiens, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona and the study’s senior author. “But the data show the opposite. We are currently discovering new species at a faster rate than ever before.”
Golden Age
By analyzing nearly two million taxonomic records of living species on Earth, the researchers found that the period from 2015 to 2020 averaged more than 16,000 newly identified species per year. These discoveries include thousands of animals—particularly arthropods and insects—as well as numerous plant and fungal species.
The rate of species description peaked in 2020, when more than 17,000 new species were formally named. Animals and arthropods showed the fastest growth in new descriptions, despite earlier expectations that discoveries would decline as most easily observable species had already been identified.
“Our findings suggest that we are still living in a ‘golden age’ of species discovery, rather than an era in which everything has already been found,” Wiens said. He added that vast amounts of life remain poorly understood, even within large groups such as fish, amphibians, and plants.
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Threaten
In addition to examining historical trends, the study also projected how many species are likely to be described in the future. Statistical models indicate that many groups of organisms may contain far more species than are currently recognized, with thousands of species in some categories yet to be formally named.
For example, projections suggest that the total number of fish species could eventually exceed 115,000, while amphibian species could surpass 41,000. For plants, the total number of species could rise beyond half a million if current discovery trends continue.
The researchers cautioned, however, that the process of documenting biodiversity faces serious challenges. Many undiscovered species live in habitats threatened by deforestation, climate change, pollution, and other human-driven pressures. According to Wiens, species that have not yet been formally described are effectively invisible to conservation systems.
“Species without names essentially have no protection,” he said. As a result, some organisms may go extinct before scientists even realize they exist.
The study also highlights the role of modern technology in accelerating species discovery. Advances in genetic analysis, the digitization of taxonomic data, and increased international scientific collaboration have made it possible to distinguish species that were previously considered identical. Techniques such as DNA sequencing allow researchers to detect biological differences invisible to the naked eye.
“Modern methods help us see variation that was previously hidden,” Wiens said. “That is why more species are being revealed now than earlier generations of scientists ever imagined.”
Overall, the study reshapes how scientists view global biodiversity. Despite centuries of exploration, much of life on Earth remains undocumented, the researchers said. They emphasized that describing species is not only a scientific task but also a critical foundation for protecting ecosystems. (Wage Erlangga)
