We define biodiversity as the variety of all life forms that inhabit our planet, encompassing the terrestrial and marine ecosystem, as well as the ecological complexes of which they are part. Keeping our biodiversity is essential, as it guarantees the balance of all ecosystems and the survival of different species, including the human species. However, this same human species is the greatest threat to biodiversity, exerted through deforestation, forest fires, climatic changes or changes in the ecosystem.
In Ecology Verde we talk about a very important type of species in the biodiversity of a region, they are the endemic species. Keep reading and discover The definition and examples of endemic species.
What are endemic species – definition
¿What is an endemic species? ¿What is endemic fauna? What examples are there? These and many other related questions are those that appear around this term when he heard for the first time or when special attention is paid. Next, we will give the Definition of endemic species and answer the other doubts.
Endemism It refers, in the field of biology, to those living beings that evolve, develop and live throughout their lives, naturally, in a particular site. In this way, endemic species are those that evolved in a place and in a separate way of the other species. These places can be regions or countries where certain species develop exclusively, without being in other regions of the world. Endemism occurs in numerous regions of the planet and affects all kinds of species, from animals to vegetables.
Endemic species are especially vulnerable to extinction phenomena, since their populations are small, they are confined to a particular site and their genetic exchange is very limited. Reason why, you must be given a regime of Special protection for endemic species.
How endemic species are classified
This is the classification of the different Types of endemisms that exist:
- Paleeeendemism: species that due to their morphological, chemical or genetic characters end up forming isolated groups. An example is the plant called Chaenorhinum tenellum (Endemism of the Center of the Valencian Community).
- Schizendemism: species that arise through a process of gradual insulation and reproductive barriers. They are species with very similar chromosomal and morphological characteristics. As an example, Hippocrepis Valentina (Northern Alicante and South of Valencia), H. Balearica (Mallorca) and H. Thickness (Ibiza).
- Patroendemism: species that arise as a result of differences in the number of chromosomes.
- AJEENDEMISM: species that arise from others as a result of occupying smaller extensions.
- Cryptoendemism: species that have not yet been described, but are good markers of endemism.
Why are islands special for endemic species
While endemism occurs in virtually any region in the world, The islands are a special territory For this phenomenon to occur, where it occurs with greater frequency than in the continental regions.
To understand the reason why this occurs that many “new” species arise from others when they are created among them geographical, ecological, reproductive or genetic barriers (what is known as a speciation name) and the islands represent very favorable environments for the creation of these barriers between species and, therefore, for the phenomenon of endemism.
An example of this are Kangaroos in Australia or Lemures in Madagascar. Australia and Madagascar are large islands full of endemic species, since their isolation was a key factor for this. In Spain, we can see this phenomenon in the Canary Islands or Balearic Islands, also rich in endemic species.
Examples of endemic species – animals and plants from Spain
These are some clear Examples of endemic speciesboth animals and vegetables, that are in Spain and other parts of the world:
- Iberian fad: Insectivorous rodent that can be found in rivers and lakes of the north and center of Spain. His hyperactive metabolism keeps him active during the winter.
- Iberian lynx: Probably the most representative species of Spanish fauna. It is a lynx of long legs and ears and short tail. Endangered species, with about 300 copies in the world.
- OLADO LAGARTO: The most abundant Iberian reptile. Inhabits dry and sunny areas, where Hiberna from November to February.
- Imperial Eagle: Ave Rapaz day and very scarce, with approximately 300 species distributed between Madrid, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla y León, Extremadura and Andalucía.
- Iberian wolf: It was one of the most representative canid species of the Peninsula. During the 70s, he almost got to his disappearance due to hunting. Today, they are gradually recovering.
- Montesas goats: They are distributed in southern Spain and Sierra de Gredos.
- UROGALLOS: very representative of glacial times. They can be found in Sweden, Norway, Russia or northern Spain.
- Patilarga frog or Iberian frog: In Spain and northern Portugal
- Endemic plant species: Flora such as the Teide Alhelí, the red tajininas in Las Palmas, the Flor de Malpaís, the Margarita del Teide, the pajonera grass, the codeso, etc.
In Spain, it is estimated that 38 species of vertebrates are threatened and a species is extinguished every 15 minutes. Examples of threatened species are the Mediterranean’s otter or monk seal. In addition, there are extinct animals in Spain, such as the Canarian Unicolor or Bucardo. Discover more in this other ecology article about 21 animals in danger of extinction in Spain – list with names and photos.
Apart from meeting some of the endemic plants and animals in Spain, we recommend knowing what endemic species are in Mexico with examples.
Difference between endemic species and native or native species
It is quite frequent to confuse the species that are endemic to the native or native, since in both cases we think that reference is made to a concrete and close area. The truth is that they are two different things and, therefore, here we explain What is the difference between endemic species and native or native species.
On the one hand, as we have indicated throughout the article, the endemic species are what we find naturally in a single space, so we will not see them in other regions of the planet, even if they are close, naturally. This occurs in almost all parts of the world, but the areas in which it is more common are the islands and peninsulas. On the other hand, native or native species are those that can be found in several places on the planet and that they are also very common in some areas, being able to say that a species is typical of a place but not exclusive. In this other ecology article, we explain more about what a native or native species is.
Thus, the difference between endemic and native species is that endemic are, at the same time, native or native species, but these do not always have to be endemic species. The native species can be in more than one area, so they occupy more extension than the endemic, which do have a well -delimited and exclusive territory.
For example, the Iberian lynx is an endemic species because it is only in this peninsula and Komodo dragons are endemic to some of the islands in central Indonesia. On the other hand, the brown bear is a native or native species of some parts of Europe and North America, and the grimty vulture is an native species of some places in Europe, as well as northern Africa and Western Asia.
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