{"id": 1132550, "name": "Number of described species", "unit": "species", "createdAt": "2026-01-06T08:36:46.000Z", "updatedAt": "2026-01-06T08:36:46.000Z", "coverage": "", "timespan": "2025-2025", "datasetId": 7305, "columnOrder": 0, "shortName": "described_species", "catalogPath": "grapher/iucn/2026-01-05/threatened_and_evaluated_species/threatened_and_evaluated_species#described_species", "descriptionShort": "The number of identified and named species in each [taxonomic group](#dod:taxonomic_group), as of 2025. Since many species have not yet been described, this is a large underestimate of the total number of species in the world.", "type": "int", "grapherConfigIdETL": "019b9273-91c4-77af-878c-15448e2bc038", "datasetName": "IUCN Red List Summary Statistics Table 1a", "datasetVersion": "2026-01-05", "nonRedistributable": false, "display": {"unit": "species"}, "schemaVersion": 2, "processingLevel": "minor", "presentation": {"titlePublic": "Number of described species", "topicTagsLinks": ["Biodiversity"]}, "descriptionKey": ["Since many species have not yet been described, this is a large underestimate of the total number of species in the world.", "For a species to be formally described, it's description must be published in a scientific journal or book.", "Species descriptions should fulfill several criteria specified by the relevant nomencalture code, including the selection of a type specimen,  a particular specimen formally associated with scientific name and description.", "The values of the numbers of described species should be used with caution as these are not always be up to date for all taxonomic groups.", "The source for each taxonomic group can be found in the [IUCN Red List summary statistics, Table 1a](https://nc.iucnredlist.org/redlist/content/attachment_files/2023-1_RL_Table_1a.pdf).", "The number of described mammals excludes domesticated species like sheep, goats and dromedary camels.", "The 'mushrooms' taxonomic group includes brackets, rusts, smuts and, jelly fungi."], "dimensions": {"years": {"values": [{"id": 2025}]}, "entities": {"values": [{"id": 371979, "name": "All fungi", "code": null}, {"id": 180689, "name": "All groups", "code": null}, {"id": 371146, "name": "All invertebrates", "code": null}, {"id": 371149, "name": "All plants", "code": null}, {"id": 371150, "name": "All vertebrates", "code": null}, {"id": 84169, "name": "Amphibians", "code": null}, {"id": 84175, "name": "Arachnids", "code": null}, {"id": 84167, "name": "Birds", "code": null}, {"id": 84188, "name": "Brown algae", "code": null}, {"id": 84174, "name": "Corals", "code": null}, {"id": 84173, "name": "Crustaceans", "code": null}, {"id": 371147, "name": "Ferns and allies", "code": null}, {"id": 84170, "name": "Fishes", "code": null}, {"id": 84183, "name": "Flowering plants", "code": null}, {"id": 84184, "name": "Green algae", "code": null}, {"id": 84182, "name": "Gymnosperms", "code": null}, {"id": 371978, "name": "Horsehoe crabs", "code": null}, {"id": 84172, "name": "Insects", "code": null}, {"id": 84166, "name": "Mammals", "code": null}, {"id": 51352, "name": "Molluscs", "code": null}, {"id": 84180, "name": "Mosses", "code": null}, {"id": 84187, "name": "Mushrooms", "code": null}, {"id": 292443, "name": "Other invertebrates", "code": null}, {"id": 84185, "name": "Red algae", "code": null}, {"id": 84168, "name": "Reptiles", "code": null}, {"id": 84176, "name": "Velvet worms", "code": null}]}}, "origins": [{"id": 10731, "title": "IUCN Red List Summary Statistics Table 1a", "description": "Number of species evaluated in relation to the overall number of described species, and numbers of threatened species by major groups of organisms.", "producer": "International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species", "citationFull": "International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2025. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. https://www.iucnredlist.org. Accessed on [27 March 2025]", "attributionShort": "IUCN", "urlMain": "https://nc.iucnredlist.org/redlist/content/attachment_files/2025-1_RL_Table_1a.pdf", "dateAccessed": "2026-01-05", "datePublished": "2025-10-10", "license": {"url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/terms/terms-of-use", "name": "\u00a9 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources"}}]}