Types and proportions of wild animals: Decoding the diversity of life on Earth

The Earth is a planet full of life, among which wild animals constitute the core part of biodiversity. Wild animals refer to those animals that have not been domesticated by humans and rely on the natural environment to survive and reproduce. Understanding the types and proportions of wild animals not only helps to reveal the complexity of the Earth's ecosystem, but also provides a basic scientific basis for protecting these species.

This article will discuss in detail the types, numbers, proportions of major groups of wild animals around the world, and their important role in the ecosystem.

1. Main classification of wild animals

There are many kinds of wild animals, from land to sea, from mountain tops to deep seas, wild animals are everywhere. Wildlife can usually be divided into the following major groups based on their biological characteristics:

1. Mammals

2. Birds

3. Reptiles

4. Amphibians

5. Fish

6. Invertebrates

1. Mammals (Mammals)

Mammals are a type of vertebrate that have characteristics such as internal development, nursing young and constant body temperature. There are about 6,400 species of mammals in the world, which are widely distributed from tropical rainforests to polar ice sheets.

• Proportion: Mammals account for only about 5% of all vertebrates, but due to their complex behavior patterns and high intelligence, mammals play an important role in the ecosystem.

• Representative species: lions, tigers, elephants, dolphins, bats, etc.

2. Birds

Birds are the only animals with feathers, and there are about 11,000 species of birds in the world. Birds can fly (with some exceptions) and have unique reproductive behaviors, such as nesting and incubating eggs. They are widely distributed on Earth and live in a variety of environments, including forests, wetlands, grasslands, and urban areas.

• Percentage: Birds account for about 14% of the world's vertebrates and are a very diverse group.

• Representative species: Eagles, penguins, parrots, hummingbirds, flamingos, etc.

3. Reptiles

Reptiles include lizards, snakes, turtles, and crocodiles. They usually have hard scales or shells and are cold-blooded animals. There are about 10,000 species of reptiles in the world, most of which live in warm climates.

• Proportion: Reptiles account for about 12% of the total number of vertebrates.

• Representative species: Cobra, Komodo dragon, green sea turtle, alligator, etc.

4. Amphibians

Amphibians, such as frogs, salamanders and toads, are vertebrates that live on land and in water. They rely on a humid environment to reproduce and survive. There are about 8,000 species of amphibians in the world.

• Proportion: Amphibians account for about 9% of vertebrate species, among which frogs are the most common.

• Representative species: frogs, giant salamanders, fire salamanders, toads, etc.

5. Fish

Fish are the most numerous group of vertebrates, divided into freshwater fish and marine fish. There are more than 34,000 existing fish species in the world, mainly living in various aquatic environments.

• Proportion: Fish account for more than 50% of all vertebrate species, and are the vertebrate group with the largest number and species.

• Representative species: sharks, carp, bass, salmon, eels, etc.

6. Invertebrates

Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including insects, crustaceans, mollusks, worms, corals, etc. They constitute most of the animal species on Earth, and there are about millions of invertebrate species worldwide.

• Proportion: Invertebrates account for more than 95% of the world's animal species and are the largest group in biodiversity.

• Representative species: bees, butterflies, spiders, crabs, octopuses, etc.

2. Number and proportion of global wildlife species

The distribution of global wildlife species is extremely uneven, and the difference in the number of vertebrates and invertebrates is particularly significant. According to scientists' research estimates, there are about 8.7 million different species on Earth, most of which are wild animals.

1. Vertebrates

Vertebrates, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, account for about 5% of all known species. Although there are fewer vertebrate species, they are often at the top of the food chain in the ecosystem and play an important role.

• Number of vertebrate species: about 70,000 species.

• Proportion: Only 5% of the world's animal species.

2. Invertebrates

Invertebrates are the most diverse organisms on Earth, estimated to be more than 1.5 million species, of which insects are the most prosperous group, accounting for the vast majority of invertebrates.

• Number of invertebrate species: More than 1.5 million species, of which insects account for about 80%.

• Proportion: 95% of the world's animal species.

3. Insects

Insects are the most numerous group of invertebrates, with an estimated 1 million species worldwide, accounting for the majority of global animal species. Insects play an important role in maintaining ecosystems, such as pollination and decomposition of organic matter.

• Proportion: Insects account for more than 75% of the world's total animal population.

3. Ecological Role of Wildlife

Wildlife plays an irreplaceable role in the ecosystem, from maintaining the balance of the food chain to promoting interdependence between species. Wildlife is vital to the health and stability of the earth's ecosystem.

1. Predator-prey relationship

In nature, the relationship between predators and prey maintains the balance of populations in an ecosystem. For example, top predators such as lions and tigers prevent certain species from over-reproducing by hunting herbivores, thereby maintaining the health of plant communities.

2. Pollination and seed dispersal

Wildlife, such as insects, birds, and mammals, play a key role in the pollination and seed dispersal of plants. Insects such as bees, butterflies, and beetles are the most important pollinators, while some birds and mammals help spread plant seeds by eating plant fruits.

3. Maintainers of the food chain

Whether it is herbivorous animals such as elephants or top predators such as wolves and eagles, the existence of wildlife helps maintain the stability of the food chain. Herbivores control plant growth, while carnivores control the population of herbivores, ensuring the diversity of the ecosystem.

4. Threats and protection faced by wildlife

Although there are many species of wildlife on Earth, they are facing threats from habitat loss, climate change, illegal hunting and pollution. In particular, the populations of many large mammals and predators are declining sharply.

1. Habitat loss

As human activities expand, wildlife habitats such as forests and wetlands are being destroyed, causing many wild animals to lose their living space.

2. Climate change

Climate change is changing the habitats of wildlife, causing species migration, changes in breeding seasons and reduced food sources, which in turn affects their survival.

3. Protection measures

In response to these threats, governments and environmental organizations around the world have taken a variety of measures, such as establishing nature reserves, strengthening wildlife law protection and promoting public environmental awareness. These measures help protect endangered species and maintain the biodiversity of the earth.

Wildlife is an important part of the Earth's ecosystem, covering many species such as mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates. Although invertebrates have an overwhelming advantage in number, each animal plays a key role in maintaining ecological balance. By understanding the types and proportions of these animals, we can better understand the complexity of nature and take effective measures to protect these precious lives.

animal tags： Lion tiger elephant dolphin bat