The Vertebrate Biodiversity of Turkey

Abstract

The present lists show that Turkish vertebrate fauna consists of 1728 species. Fish species form its half part (51.74%) with 530 marine and 402 inland fish species. However, the total number is 894, since 38 of them are living in salty, brackish, and freshwater. At the class level, Petromyzonti is represented by 4, Elasmobranchii by 65, Holocephali by 1, Actinopteri by 824, Amphibia by 36, Reptilia by 140, Aves by 485, and Mammalia by 173 species. A total number of 189 inland fish-1 Petromyzonti and 188 Actinopteri-13 amphibian, 20 reptile, and 5 mammal species are endemic to Turkey. The endemism rate out of the total vertebrate species is 13.14%. According to the given conservation status, at least five species are extinct, and 215 species are globally threatened. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. All rights reserved.