These scripts use the taxon description dates data from LifeGate assembled by Martin Freiberg to visualize cumulative descriptions, calculate fitted curves, and link them to potential predictors. In addition, data is compared between LCVP and LifeGate, and the estimation/extrapolation process of a paper about species numbers in Nigeria is examined.

After submission to Scientific Reports, a reviewer asked for the extension of the distribution in Europe and North America to the whole Northern hemisphere (i.e. including Russia, but excluding Mexico). Additionally, the reviewer asked for an aggregated analysis joining insects into a class. This has been incorporated into the scripts.

The corresponding data is published on zenodo.