The British Isles have few endemic species due to past frequent glaciations and because of the proximity to Continental Europe and former land bridges which enabled species to re-colonise the islands from the continent following glaciations. Most endemic taxa to the British Isles are considered to be subspecies of a more widely spread species, with mutations or adaptations slightly changing the species in the islands or in certain localities. British conservationists often describe this as a "wiped clean effect" with repeated glaciations forcing many species out of the modern area of the islands to more southern latitudes in Europe and perhaps even driving some species extinct. Some species which were present in Britain before past glaciations, often during periods with a warmer climate than now, failed to return after the Last Glacial Maximum. Amongst these are Rhododendron ponticum and rabbits, both now considered invasive and non-native. A species is only deemed native if it reached the British Isles without human intervention (either intentional or unintentional). That means that to be native the species must have reached Britain before the land bridge joining Britain to the continent was submerged. Alternatively, species can also be native when they have flown or swum to Britain, as is the case with many bird species which arrived after the submersion of the land bridge, a recent example of which is the collared dove which arrived in the 1950s. This also applies for plants which spread seed in the wind. A few endemic species are Arctic-Alpine species, survivors of Arctic species of plants and animals which either adapted to the warming climate or became isolated in suitable areas of mountains or lakes which still retained a suitable micro-climate. A common misconception is that the entirety of the British Isles was under glaciers and was uninhabitable both for humans, plants and animals. Whilst unsuitable for most species, a number of Arctic species survived in the areas not under glaciers in southern areas of England, Wales and south west Ireland and were either driven to extinction in the British Isles or to micro-climatic refuges as the climate warmed and the Arctic conditions retreated north. Most endemic species or subspecies however date to more recent, post-glacial times, many having spread via land bridges or along the Atlantic seaboard of Europe.
Origins of endemic species Ice Age survivors in suitable micro-climates Subspecies (offshoots) of a larger species, many may in turn develop into new species Glacial or pre-glacial survivors which have become extinct across much of their former range or have never occurred outside of Britain.
Fungi Geastrum britannicum – An earthstar fungus, first seen in Norfolk by Jonathan Revett, and confirmed as a distinct species in 2015. It has so far (2015) been found in at least fifteen locations in England and Wales.. This species may actually be a non-native species in Britain which remains undiscovered in its native range. It has now been found at several sites in mainland Europe. Gibellula attenboroughii - A parasitic fungi discovered in 2021 in Northern Ireland in an abandoned gunpowder storeroom at Castle Espie. It uses arachnid species as a host to spread its spores. Endemic to the island of Ireland.
Bryophytes Cornish path-moss (Ditrichum cornubicum) – endemic to Cornwall (a recent discovery in West Cork is probably an accidental introduction) Derbyshire feathermoss (Thamnobryum angustifolium) – endemic to a single site in the Derbyshire Peak District. Dixon's thread moss (Bryum dixonii) – Scotland only Scottish thread moss (Pohlia scotica) – Scotland only Scottish beard moss (Bryoerythrophyllum caledonicum) – Scotland only
Vascular plants
In 1999, 47 species of flowering plants (430 including microspecies) were considered to be endemic to the British Isles, 32 of them in the "critical genera" Euphrasia, Limonium and Sorbus. Further additions are made from time to time, as cited below.
Subsequently, Hieracium attenboroughianum is an endemic plant which was discovered in the Brecon Beacons in 2004 and Hedlundia pseudomeinichii was discovered on the island of Arran in 2007. In 2015, a newly formed and endemic species of monkeyflower (Erythranthe peregrina) was identified in Scotland and the Scottish islands. Bromus interruptus is an endemic to England, which was extinct in the wild but has been reintroduced from saved seed and is now found at three sites in England. The total number of endemic plant species has now grown to 52.
Spiders Nothophantes horridus Merrett & Stevens, 1995 – the ground-weaver spider is found at four sites in Plymouth, Devon.
Amphipoda (freshwater) Microniphargus leruthi – found across Ireland, Wales and Southern England. Comprises three 'cryptic species'. Niphargus glennei (Spooner) – the south-western ground water shrimp is found in Cornwall and Devon. Most sites for this species have been discovered in the last fifteen years. Niphargus irlandicus – found in aquifers and cave systems across most of southern and central Ireland Niphargus wexfordensis – found in Wexford, Ireland
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