Largest taxonomic group of living organisms

Constituting the taxonomic insect order Coleoptera, beetles and weevils are the largest taxonomic group of living organisms on Earth, accounting for one in every five animal species alive today. Around 400,000 species of beetle have been scientifically described and named so far (with many additional ones revealed every year).

It has been estimated that even this seemingly impressive total constitutes in reality a mere 15% of all beetle species currently inhabiting our planet, i.e., probably around 85% of all beetle species are still undiscovered and unnamed by science.

The second-most speciose animal group is Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), comprising about 160,000 species in about 120 families.