Question

It is often assumed that nearly all organisms are known to scientists. Is this so? Give a specific example of a newly discovered organism in tropical forests (i.e., newly discovered within the past few years).

Answer 1

No, not all organisms are known to scientists. Many species, especially in microorganisms and in tropical regions, remain unidentified, with new species continuously being discovered.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is not accurate to assume that nearly all organisms are known to scientists. A significant number of species remain unidentified, particularly microorganisms and those from biodiversity-rich areas such as tropical forests. For example, a large number of orchid species have been discovered since 1995, with taxonomists like C. A. Luer describing nearly 800 new species from Ecuador alone. New species continue to be discovered across various taxonomic groups, demonstrating that the exploration and cataloging of Earth's biodiversity are ongoing processes.