A list of the terrestrial fungi, flora and fauna of Madeira and Selvagens archipelagos

Study Extent

The study extent of this checklist includes the Madeira archipelago, composed of two large islands (Madeira and Porto Santo) and three small islands, which are globally named Desertas (Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio), and the archipelago of Selvagens with two small islands (Selvagem Grande and Selvagem Pequena) and one islet (Ilhéu de Fora). Distribution is given, whenever available, at the level of the four main geographic units: Madeira Island, Porto Santo Island, Desertas and Selvagens. If no information is available, distribution is given as Madeira Archipelago.

Sampling

In this checklist, infra-specific categories, apart from subspecies, are not considered (i.e. varieties, forms, etc.). The list of taxa is based on the taxa recognized in primary published literature sources, compiled by a vast group of experts. Only terrestrial organisms are considered in this list.

Method steps

1. The dataset was prepared from the original excel files used to compile the book “A list of the terrestrial fungi, flora and fauna of Madeira and Selvagens archipelagos”, by Borges et al, 2008 (see Citation). For a comprehensive description of the methodology, check the original publication using the external link provided.

The most important terrestrial taxonomic groups were studied: Fungi, Lichens, Bryophyta (mosses, liverworts and hornworts), Pteridophyta (ferns), Spermatophyta (gymnosperms and angiosperms), Platyhelminthes (flatworms), Nematoda (roundworms), Annelida (earthworms), Mollusca (slugs and snails), Arthropoda (millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, insects, etc.) and Vertebrata (freshwater fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals).

1. Fungi
   rank: kingdom
2. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
3. Plantae
   rank: kingdom
4. Chromista
   rank: kingdom
5. Protozoa
   rank: kingdom
6. Chordata
   rank: phylum
7. Annelida
   rank: phylum
8. Platyhelminthes
   rank: phylum
9. Nematoda
   rank: phylum
10. Mollusca
    rank: phylum
11. Arthropoda
    rank: phylum
12. Oomycota
    rank: phylum
13. Ascomycota
    rank: phylum
14. Basidiomycota
    rank: phylum
15. Glomeromycota
    rank: phylum
16. Zygomycota
    rank: phylum
17. Myxomycota
    rank: phylum
18. Bryophyta
    rank: phylum
19. Pteridophyta
    rank: phylum
20. Spermatophyta
    rank: phylum

The geographic scope of this checklist includes the Madeira archipelago, composed of two large islands (Madeira and Porto Santo) and three small islands, which are globally named Desertas (Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio), and the archipelago of Selvagens with two small islands (Selvagem Grande and Selvagem Pequena) and one islet (Ilhéu de Fora).