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Data Sources and Credits
We derived the terrestrial vertebrates database by overlaying species range polygons for mammals, amphibians and threatened birds onto the hotspots coverage (itself derived from the coverage of ecoregions developed by WWF-US); for the remaining species, we relied on the information derived from WildFinder (to inform species presence and endemism in hotspots). The primary source for both the taxonomic and distribution data is the global species assessments led by IUCN-SSC. The main data source for mammals is the upcoming Global Mammal Assessment (the taxonomic basis for which is largely based on the forthcoming 3rd edition of the Mammal Species of the World). For birds, we use the taxonomic classification developed by BirdLife International. For amphibians, we use the results of the recently completed Global Amphibian Assessment. For reptiles, the classification derived from WildFinder is based largely on the taxonomy of the EMBL reptile database. This use of modified hotspot boundaries and of global taxonomies accounts for the majority of the updates to the numbers of species occurring in hotspots relative to previously published numbers. Although we do not include marine species in this database, we do include those species that are known to breed on land, such as all pinnipeds, and we base presence/endemism on their breeding ranges. Introduced species are excluded, and we exclude migrant and vagrant occurrences.For information on threatened species we follow the 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Threatened species are those in the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable. We also indicate those species considered to be Extinct in the Wild (i.e. surviving only in captivity) for the areas where they were last known. We do not indicate species in the categories Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened and Extinct (indeed, recently Extinct species, since 1500, are excluded). Common names generally conform to BirdLife International for birds, and to the 2004 IUCN Red List for mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Some species, in particular many amphibians, do not have common names; others have multiple common names, but it has not been possible to include those in the database. The development of this database was undertaken hand-in-hand with the production of the Hotspots Revisited book, and relies heavily on the efforts and knowledge not only of the authors of the book, but also the many people who lent their time and expertise to reviewing chapters, contributing data or information, or answering questions relating to species distribution. The names of all these people are listed under Site Credits.Database citation:Conservation International 2005. Biodiversity Hotspots: Species Database. Downloaded from www.biodiversityhotspots.org on 18 March 2005.
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