Species Richness: Vertebrates (excluding fishes)

The vertebrate species richness map was created based on an analysis conducted by NatureServe of individual range maps of vertebrate animals, including all native birds, mammals, amphibians, lizards, snakes, turtles, and crocodilians. Each range map is based on data from numerous sources within the scientific community. For more information and information about data sources, please see: http://www.natureserve.org/getData/animalData.jspThis map was created to portray the nationwide species diversity patterns of vertebrate animals. Understanding the distribution of life across the United States provides important context for targeting efforts that promote wildlife conservation. One of the most common and straightforward metrics for quantifying biological diversity is to compare the number of species in an area or region. This species "richness” measure is useful in helping understand important centers of biodiversity nationally, regionally, and locally.The analysis included only species distributions that are native and regularly occurring. For mammals, because the distribution maps were created to aid on-the-ground conservation, the analysis is based on ranges of terrestrial (non-marine) species only. For bird species, all regularly-occurring species are included; distributions of species only recorded as vagrants are not included. Migratory bird species are counted only on their breeding and nonbreeding ranges and not where they only occur as passage migrants. All native species of terrestrial and aquatic reptiles, crocodilians, and turtles recorded from the United States are included. Ranges of marine turtles are not included.