{"id": 1132550, "name": "Number of described species", "unit": "species", "createdAt": "2026-01-06T08:36:46.000Z", "updatedAt": "2026-08-17T17:56:10.000Z", "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": "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", "dataChecksum": "10628136885296994695", "metadataChecksum": "8321199564226802287", "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.\n- For a species to be formally described, it's description must be published in a scientific journal or book.\n- 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.\n- 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.\n- 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).\n- The number of described mammals excludes domesticated species like sheep, goats and dromedary camels.\n- 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"}}]}