A previously unknown monkey species, the Caqueta titi monkey, was discovered deep in the Amazon jungle in August 2009. A month earlier, two newly identified species of fish were found in the area affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Taxonomists today are discovering new species of animals, birds, and fish all the time—some 18,516 new species were discovered in 2007 alone. On average, 50 new species are discovered each day. Quentin Wheeler, of the International Institute of Species Exploration at Arizona State University, said, “Most people do not realize just how incomplete our knowledge of Earth’s species is.”
Just how many species of living things are there in this world? Scientists haven’t been able to determine that number. Estimates range from 2 to 100 million, of which only 1.5 to 1.8 million species have been named. According to one report, there are 5,500 species of mammals; 6,500 species of amphibians; 9,000 species of reptiles; 10,000 species of birds; 31,300 species of fish; 103,000 species of arachnids; 373,000 species of plants, fungi, and protists; and 1,000,000 species of insects.
These mind-boggling figures highlight the indeterminable variety and complexity of life on earth, and clearly attest to the ingenuity, originality, creativity, and power needed to speak all the natural diversity into existence. “God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky. . . . Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds.’ And it was so” (Genesis 1:20,24 NIV).
Celebrating God and His creation, the psalmist said, “O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures” (Psalm 104:24).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Joshua 2:1-24
More:
Read Psalm 104:1-35. How does it help you to celebrate the Creator and His creation?
Next:
Do you believe that all life on earth—millions of species, including humans—is the product of evolution or evolutionary processes or that God created it? Why?
tom felten on February 28, 2013 at 8:57 am
Thanks for sharing this post, KT. Yes, God’s creation is truly amazing in its breadth and design! As we look at it we can’t help but see the wonder of His works.
mike wittmer on February 28, 2013 at 12:52 pm
This is amazing and news to me. It reminds me again why life on the new earth will never become boring. Besides the glorious wonder of worshiping Jesus in his presence, we will have forever to explore his astounding creation.
Isaiah507 on February 28, 2013 at 1:14 pm
When I look at the diversity and ingenuity in nature; the way we are still discovering helpful products derived from the various life forms on earth; the advances we have obtained from medicinal plants, from the design of a birds wings and from the use of sonar technology from bats and dolphins, I can only conclude that I can never fully understand God. His ways are past finding out (Romans 11:33).
If I could understand all about God, then I definitely wouldn’t need God! Even the blind cannot deny the wonder of God’s works! Creation cannot be an accident (a big bang) because chaos cannot produce order and something cannot come from nothing!
jimgroberts on February 28, 2013 at 2:51 pm
If you look at the variety of dogs, cats, horses, cows, sheep, chickens, goats, etc. they are a mixture of creation and evolution where the evolution is a mixture of time, environment and man’s inter-breeding. If God made all rukles that govern the universe and the continual growing and death/creation of planets and galaxies over milleniums why can he not have created everything including life forms also. If you read the growth of mankind in the scriptures you see that God did not just place varieties of man but started with one man and from that man made one woman and by evolution over time filled the earth with Asian, Negro, Aboriginy, Caucasion, etc. each of his own type. God is God and His ways are not ours and not to be understood but accepted. We are not God that we can understand these things. Don’t be so quick to put God in a box.
Tom Kopper on February 28, 2013 at 9:04 pm
This may seem a bit off, but as I have come to wittness, through-out my entire Christian walk, a constant squabble between old-age earth, and young-age, with-in the, “Body-of-Christ.” And I would say get over with this and go on! What does this look to those outside of His Church.
Use ‘creation’ by God, as a “QUIET” back door approach to openning to one’s soul, rather than slapping them with tracts or 3, 4, etc., points (Hell-fire & Brimstone approach. Take time and show them the time and precise manner God did for showing His love for us. Open the stage by rolling away the curtains to show that, “The heaven’s declare the glory of God……..”
winn collier on March 2, 2013 at 6:57 pm
I have a couple of these strange species here in my house.