Global trends and biases in new mammal species discoveries

In mammals, recent advances in morphometric, molecular, statistical, and ecological tools used to distinguish previously cryptic taxa-coupled with the increasing globalization of mammalogical research efforts-have led to widespread taxonomic changes.

“In mammals, recent advances in the morphometric, molecular, statistical, and ecological tools used to distinguish previously cryptic taxa—coupled with the increasing globalization of mammalogical research efforts—have led to widespread taxonomic changes (Patterson 2000; Reeder et al. 2007; Burgin et al. 2018; Álvarez-Castañeda et al. 2019).”

Total recognized species richness has increased by ~25% since MSW3 (2005).

“Similarly, total recognized species richness has increased by ∼46% in the 4 decades since MSW2 (Wilson and Reeder 1993; Cole et al. 1994), ∼25% since MSW3 (Wilson and Reeder 2005; Reeder et al. 2007), and ∼4% since the release of MDD1 (Burgin et al. 2018).”

That pace exceeded the previous estimate of 7,500 total species based on the same method.

“That pace exceeded the previous estimate of 7,500 total species based on the same method (Reeder et al. 2007).”

These geographic concentrations of mammal taxonomic activity are consistent with previous estimates.

“These geographic concentrations of mammal taxonomic activity are consistent with previous estimates (Patterson 2000; Reeder et al. 2007; Burgin et al. 2018; Moura and Jetz 2021).”

These estimates are considerably higher than those given by Burgin et al. (2018) and Reeder et al. (2007), but are nonetheless realistic owing to the combined consideration of species splits, lumps, and de novo descriptions.

“Both of these estimates are considerably higher than those given by Burgin et al. (2018) and Reeder et al. (2007), but are nonetheless realistic owing to the combined consideration of species splits, lumps, and de novo descriptions.”