Skip to content

Conservation

Latest State of Observed Species (SOS) report published

by Dave Armstrong 20 Jan 2012
Latest State of Observed Species (SOS) report published

Darwin's bark spider; Credit: GalliasM (Creative Commons license)

etadshow468 -->

The latest State of Observed Species (SOS) 2011 report was published this week. All of the species discovered in 2009 (19,232), whether fossil or living, extant or almost extinct in some cases, are all there. Arizona State University's International Institute for Species Exploration has even produced a top ten and a retro list.

What is fascinating is that in this shrinking ecology we have, more and more animals and plants are found, even as we erase them through habitat loss. New species come and new species go.

We see new snakes and bacteria, orchids and beetles (no, not them) but we have little chance of visiting the areas where they live. These habitats are often rapidly disappearing, despite the fact that next year even more species will be found. The puzzle is just how many were there before we started changing the planet's naturally diverse ecosystems.

Of the insects, more than half of the total numbers of course, the most publicised was the chimaeric jumping cockroach from Table Mountain. Spiders kept up the chase from Madagascar with the web gigantism of Darwin's bark spider (top). Their silk is now prized as 10X tougher than Kevlar with a strength of up to 520 megajoules per cubic metre!

Lepanthes orchid

Lepanthes orchid example via Shutterstock

Plants of course don't have the charisma of cute beasties. 2,184 were discovered, making up 11.3% of all species. Perhaps, new orchids stir us more than most as 418 new species of Lepanthes, Stelis and Epidendrum were found!

The fish gave us many new perches, including microscopic gobies and some cichlids, while the Amphibia comprised 133 new frogs. Perhaps salamanders and newts are more secretive. Mammals numbered 41 new species, despite their size, but they were mainly rodents and bats (83%).

Sadly the birds found numbered seven, with many more being found as fossils (34). That speaks volumes about the state of our fauna, in vivid contrast to the quite encouraging numbers of hard-to-spot animals and plants.

Reptiles used 20 Colubrid snakes to move up the league table of numbers with 38 lizards, 29 elusive geckos, 12 iguana, five chameleons and even 2 turtle species. On my first day of next Christmas, I want two turtle species!

Word cloud for those who like to study hard (with a microscope for those poor sedges

Word cloud for those who like to study hard (with a microscope for those poor sedges); Credit: International Institute for Species Exploration/Arizona State University

In addition, lots of mushrooms, including one intrepid underwater specimen, and bacteria to fill a large planet were found. The fossils played a steady game, with 1905 new species. All in all, the "retro-review" of the last ten years discoveries relates that we had 176, 311 new spp. The word cloud below is a colourful reminder of the numbers of each group involved and a tribute to all the nomenclature that has diligently succeeded in accomplishing Linnaeus' dream.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping