Life Has a History

Life is very diverse and always has been.
Mosaic of life

Many different taxa (groups of organisms), including animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and protists, exist on Earth. The organisms that exist today, and those that have existed in the past, help us understand the history of life.

How many different species of living things do you think exist on Earth today? (Click on the best answer.)

  1. Fewer than 10 million

  2. Between 10 million and 20 million

  3. Over 30 million
 
Previous

Snail (Partula taeniata) © Carole Hickman, UCMP; Ferns (Blechnum spicant) © Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College; Spider (Lactrodectus mactans) by George W. Robinson, © 1999 California Academy of Sciences; Mushrooms (Armillaria mellea) by Dr. Robert Thomas and Margaret Orr, © 2001 California Academy of Sciences; Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) Eugene Weber © 2001 California Academy of Sciences; Oak tree (Quercus durata) by J.E. (Jed) and Bonnie McClellan © 2005 California Academy of Sciences; Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) by Gerald and Buff Corsi, © 2002 California Academy of Sciences; Flower (Fritillaria pudica) by Gerald and Buff Corsi, © 1999 California Academy of Sciences
 
UCMP HOME		  
EXPLORATIONS THROUGH TIME HOME		  
AUTHORS		  
COPYRIGHT