* New discoveries: Scientists are constantly finding new species, especially in less explored areas like the deep sea or rainforests.
* Defining a species: There's no universal agreement on what exactly constitutes a "species." Different scientists use different methods to classify organisms, leading to variations in the number of species recognized.
* Microscopic life: A huge number of organisms are microscopic, and many remain undiscovered.
Estimated figures:
* Known species: Estimates range from 1.7 to 2 million known species, but this number is constantly changing.
* Estimated total: The number of species on Earth is likely much higher, with estimates reaching 8.7 million or even more.
Bottom line: We're still exploring the vast diversity of life on Earth. The number of discovered species is impressive, but it's only a fraction of the true number.
