BEIJING, Nov. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- 178 new species of fish and hundreds more new species of plants and other animals have been discovered by marine scientists during the past year, bringing the total number of life-forms found in the world's oceans to about 230,000, according to an AP report.

    Those in charge of the Census of Marine Life, now four years into a planned 10-year count, say the rate of discovery shows no sign of slowing, even in European and other waters heavily studied in the past.

    Some 1,000 scientists in 70 countries are participating, up from 300 scientists in 53 countries just a year earlier.

    The part of the census dealing with microbes, the smallest organisms, is just starting. 

    Once that part is done, scientists believe they will find that the oceans extending across 70 percent of the earth's surface hold 20,000 species of fish and up to 1.98 million species of animals and plants, many of them small, basic life-forms like worms and jellyfish.

    So far, scientists have described 15,482 marine fish species, up from 15,304 a year ago. The number of animals and plants is up to about 214,500, several hundred more than last year. enditem

(Agencies)