Lifespan Estimates
Some species lifespan estimates by taxonomy
| Taxonomy | Source of Estimate | Species Average Lifespan years (MYA) |
|---|---|---|
| All Invertebrates | Raup (1978) | 11 |
| Marine Invertebrates | Valentine (1970) | 5–10 |
| Marine Animals | Raup (1991) | 4 |
| Marine Animals | Sepkoski (1992) | 5 |
| All Fossil Groups | Simpson (1952) | .5–5 |
| Mammals | Martin (1993) | 1 |
| Cenozoic Mammals | Raup and Stanley (1978) | 1–2 |
| Diatoms | Van Valen | 8 |
| Dinoflagelates | Van Valen (1973) | 13 |
| Planktonic Foraminifera | Van Valen (1973) | 7 |
| Cenozoic Bivalves | Raup and Stanley (1978) | 10 |
| Echinoderms | Durham (1970) | 6 |
| Silurian Graptolites | Rickards (1977) | 2 |
Adapted from the book “extinction rates”, edited by Lawton, J, and May, R.
Read more about this topic: Background Extinction Rate
Famous quotes containing the word estimates:
“Writing a book I have found to be like building a house. A man forms a plan, and collects materials. He thinks he has enough to raise a large and stately edifice; but after he has arranged, compacted and polished, his work turns out to be a very small performance. The authour however like the builder, knows how much labour his work has cost him; and therefore estimates it at a higher rate than other people think it deserves,”
—James Boswell (17401795)