In Search of Britain's Endemic Wildlife
Britain is home to a diverse range of species found nowhere else on Earth, yet many of these remain undercelebrated and poorly known.
According to James Harding-Morris, author of the new book "Endemic", birders are likely more familiar with endemic species than others, as they often plan trips around seeing species that occur nowhere else on Earth.
An endemic species is defined as an organism restricted to a single defined geographic location, such as the Giant Panda in China, the Dodo in Mauritius, and the Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch, found only on Gran Canaria.
Typically, the term endemic refers to "national" endemics, or species found within a single country, which make the greatest contribution to global extinction rates.
an endemic species is an organism restricted to a single defined geographic location
Author's summary: Exploring Britain's unique wildlife.
- Giant Panda: endemic to China
- Dodo: endemic to Mauritius
- Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch: endemic to Gran Canaria