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Table 1 Estimates of species' lifespan from origination to extinction

From: Q&A: Extinctions and the impact of Homo sapiens

Taxon

Species' average lifespan (my)

All invertebrates

11

Marine invertebrates

5-10

Marine animals

4

Marine animals

5

All fossil groups

0.5-5

Mammals

1

Cenozoic mammals

1-2

Diatoms

8

Dinoflagellates

13

Planktonic foraminifera

7

Cenozoic bivalves

10

Echinoderms

6

Silurian graphtolites

2

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BMC Biology

ISSN: 1741-7007

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