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Extinct Species
April 1, 2012 at 11:31 pm
I don't know where I heard this (might've been in one of Dawkins videos), but it was said that from all the species that ever walked (or crawled  ) this planet, 99.8% of them were extinct.
I can't remember if this information is correct, so does anyone know where I can verify this?
“That which is asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
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RE: Extinct Species
April 1, 2012 at 11:35 pm
I am to understand this to be correct.
Try GFGI, I am thinking that either "The God Delusion" or "The Greatest Show on Earth" both by Dawkins is where you are referencing this quote from....
 Could be wrong
"The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest." G'Kar-B5
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RE: Extinct Species
April 1, 2012 at 11:42 pm
(April 1, 2012 at 11:31 pm)Styper Wrote: I don't know where I heard this (might've been in one of Dawkins videos), but it was said that from all the species that ever walked (or crawled ) this planet, 99.8% of them were extinct.
I can't remember if this information is correct, so does anyone know where I can verify this?
Vast majority of species that ever existed is undoubtedly extinct. But the figure of 99.8% is an extremely rough estimate given a decimal place of precision for rhetorical effect rather than convey solid and reliable quantitative determination.
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RE: Extinct Species
April 1, 2012 at 11:53 pm
(April 1, 2012 at 11:35 pm)KichigaiNeko Wrote: I am to understand this to be correct.
Try GFGI, I am thinking that either "The God Delusion" or "The Greatest Show on Earth" both by Dawkins is where you are referencing this quote from....
Could be wrong
Well, I tried google'ing it but all I get is endangered species, activists sites, awareness and whatnot. Of course my search skills might be a bit off.
(April 1, 2012 at 11:42 pm)Chuck Wrote: (April 1, 2012 at 11:31 pm)Styper Wrote: I don't know where I heard this (might've been in one of Dawkins videos), but it was said that from all the species that ever walked (or crawled ) this planet, 99.8% of them were extinct.
I can't remember if this information is correct, so does anyone know where I can verify this?
Vast majority of species that ever existed is undoubtedly extinct. But the figure of 99.8% is an extremely rough estimate given a decimal place of precision for rhetorical effect rather than convey solid and reliable quantitative determination.
Well, that's why I'm very interested in the subject and want to read more on this.
“That which is asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
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RE: Extinct Species
April 1, 2012 at 11:58 pm
 Hmmm I see you point.
Perhaps we are asking the wrong question??
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RE: Extinct Species
April 2, 2012 at 12:03 am
(April 1, 2012 at 11:58 pm)KichigaiNeko Wrote: Hmmm I see you point.
Perhaps we are asking the wrong question??
Got a topic on this http://www.askabiologist.org.uk/answers/...php?id=556
Definetly bad google skills, but thanks 
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RE: Extinct Species
April 2, 2012 at 12:03 am
(This post was last modified: April 2, 2012 at 12:49 am by KichigaiNeko.)
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RE: Extinct Species
April 2, 2012 at 12:06 am
(April 2, 2012 at 12:03 am)KichigaiNeko Wrote: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction Start here... will lead to other portals
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Exti...CDIQgQMwAA
Peer Reviewed papers.
http://www.well.com/~davidu/extinction.html ths site seems to have a great many references.
Hope this helps.
Hey, thanks very much
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RE: Extinct Species
April 2, 2012 at 12:47 am
(This post was last modified: April 2, 2012 at 2:31 am by BoyWonder.)
I doubt whether we'll ever get a hard number on what percentage of species went extinct. But that is not the point. The point is that the overwhelming majority of species went extinct at one time or another in a couple billion years of evolution. Whether that was 97.4% or 99.8% is totally irrelevant. The point is that in evolution extinction is the rule, while survival is the exception.
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RE: Extinct Species
April 2, 2012 at 8:30 am
Considering the average lifetime of a species is 5-10 million years and the first life appeared 3800 million years ago, I have no doubt whatsoever that extinct species are over 99%
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