Cape Verde

Birds found exclusively in Cape Verde include the critically endangered Raso Lark (ARKive), the Cape Verde Swamp Warbler (ARKive), the Cape Verde Sparrow (ARKive), and the Cape Verde Swift (ARKive). Seven additional landbird and three additional seabird species are sometimes recognized (BirdLife Int'l) including the Cape Verde Shearwater (Dick's Birds) as a breeding species. Also included are Alexander's Kestrel Falco alexandri (Richard Ek), the Cape Verde Buzzard Buteo bannermani (flickr), the Cape Verde Barn Owl Tyto detorta (Richard Ek), and Bourne's Heron Ardea bournei (Eco Serra Malagueta).

Cape Verde's skinks are now all placed in the endemic genus Chioninia (UP pdf file) and include Vaillant's Skink Chioninia (or Mabuya) vaillantii (p. 6 of IICT pdf file), Chioninia (or Mabuya) fogoensis (Eco Sao Nicolau), Chioninia (or Mabuya) stangeri (caboverde.com), and the extinct Cape Verde Giant Skink Chioninia (or Macroscincus) coctei (caboverde.com). Other reptiles unique to Cape Verde include the Cape Verde Leaf-toed Gecko Hemidactylus bouvieri (flickr), the Cape Verde Wall Gecko Tarentola caboverdianus (p. 4 of IICT pdf file), and  the Cape Verde Giant Gecko Tarentola gigas (GRO).

The Cape Damsel Similiparma hermani (FishBase) and Bulldog Dentex Virididentex acromegalus (FishBase) are genera of marine fish known only from the waters around Cape Verde. Other endemic marine fish include Lubbock’s Chromis Chromis lubbocki (FishBase), the Cape Verde Skate Raja herwigi (FishBase), the Two-banded Seabream Diplodus prayensis (FishBase), the combtooth blennies Scartella caboverdiana (FishBase) and Parablennius salensis (FishBase), the Barbel Clingfish Apletodon barbatus (FishBase), and the gobies Gobius tetrophthalmus (FishBase) and Didogobius wirtzi (p. 5 of Dr. Friedrich Pfeil pdf file).

Among 58 endemic spider species is a jumping spider Luxuria lymphatica (Salticidae of the World). Hottentotta caboverdensis (SciELO Brazil) is a parthenogenetic scorpion. By one count there are 369 endemic species and 15 endemic genera of insects. These include a butterfly Chilades evorae (Michel Libert), a geometrid moth Scopula paneliusi (Forum Herbulot), a bee Ceylalictus capverdensis (Atlas Hymenoptera), a grasshopper Wernerella atlantica (SysTax), an ant Monomorium boltoni (CREAF pdf file), a skin beetle Trogoderma caboverdiana (Andreas Herrmann), and a seed bug Serranegra petrophila (p. 59 of PBI 7 MB pdf file). Endemic land snails include Gastrocopta acarus (fig. 8 at Internet Archive), Leptaxis bollei (figs. 53 & 54 at Internet Archive), and Eremina advena (figs. 84 & 85  at Internet Archive).  Marine molluscs known solely from Cape Verde include Tambja fantasmalis (Sea Slug Forum), Nassarius caboverdensis (Eddie Hardy), Volvarina verdensis (Eddie Hardy), and Favartia burnayi (Eddie Hardy).  Nearly 50 species of conesnails are restricted to Cape Verde (Smithsonian pdf file) including Conus josephinae (coneshell.net) and Africonus boavistensis (Eddie Hardy). The Cape Verde Spiny Lobster Palinurus charlestoni (SeaLifeBase) is also endemic.

There are 84 vascular plant taxa unique to Cape Verde (Plantas de mi Tierra) including the endemic genus Tornabenea (BioLib). Additional plants restricted to Cape Verde include Aeonium gorgoneum (Plantas de mi tierra), a bellflower Campanula jacobaea (BioLib), Nauplius smithii (IWÖ), Globularia amygdalifolia (BioLib), a sagebrush Artemisia gorgonum (BioLib), a tree Sideroxylon marginata (IWÖ), Lotus jacobeus (Plantas de mi Tierra), a lavender Lavandula rotundifolia (BioLib), Sarcostemma daltonii (Eco Sao Nicolau), a spurge Euphorbia tuckeyana (BioLib), Polycarpaea gayi (WNS Stamps), and a wallflower Erysimum caboverdeanum (Plantas de mi tierra). Whether the Cape Verde Island Date Palm Phoenix atlantica (Wikipedia) is a distinct species has been controversial (palms.org), although recent studies have suggested that it is (SpringerLink).

The nation comprises the Cape Verde Islands Dry Forests ecoregion (EoE) which is part of the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot (CI). The Cape Verde Islands are also considered one of the world's top ten coral reef hotspots (Reef Guardian pdf file). A complete list of Cape Verde's plants and terrestrial animals with endemic species and genera indicated is included in the "Lista Preliminar de Especies Silvestres de Cabo Verde" (Biodiversidade dos Açores 5 MB pdf file).