Internet encyclopedia to list all 1.8 mln species

From Reuters:

From apples to zebras, all 1.8 million known plant and animal species will be listed in an Internet-based “Encyclopedia of Life” under a $100 million project, scientists said on Tuesday.

The 10-year scheme, launched with initial grants of $12.5 million from two U.S.-based foundations, could aid everyone from children with biology homework to governments planning how to protect endangered species.

“The Encyclopedia of Life plans to create an entry for every named species,” James Edwards, executive director of the project which is backed by many leading research institutions, told Reuters. “At the moment that’s 1.8 million.”

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