| How many species are
there in Switzerland? There are an estimated 40'000 animal species and
3'000 plant species in Switzerland. However, a great number of species
have not been discovered yet.
In Switzerland, there are an estimated 40,000 animal
species and 3,000 plant species (see the table below). Many of these species
are encountered almost everywhere, but others can only be found with a great
deal of luck. Scientists believe that there are a great number of species
in Switzerland that have not even been discovered yet, especially in the
insect world.
Habitats characterized by a particularly high degree of species richness
are referred to in the technical terminology as “hot spots”.
The tropical rainforests are examples of classical hot spots. But even in
Switzerland there are habitats that are distinguished by an especially high
number of species. These habitats include floodplain forests, mixed hardwood
forests and calcareous grasslands. In the Jura Mountains, for example, scientists
found 34 different plant species in an area of calcareous grassland about
as big as a sheet of typing paper.
In addition to hot spots, special sites such as raised bogs or moors where
only a few specialized organisms can live are also important for biodiversity.
 |
| Numbers of species for animal phyla found in Switzerland |
|
| Phylum/class |
Known |
Estimated |
|
| Sponges (Porifera) |
6 |
6 |
|
| Cnidarians (Cnidaria) |
6 |
6 |
| Hydrozoans (Hydrozoa) |
6 |
6 |
|
| Flatworms (Plathelminthes) |
|
2600 |
| Eddyworms (Turbellaria) |
|
150 |
| Trematodes (Trematoda) |
|
1750 |
| Tapeworms (Cestoda) |
|
700 |
|
| Ribbonworms (Nemertini) |
|
3 |
|
| Roundworms (Nemathelminthes) |
|
3175 |
| Gastrotrichs (Gastrotricha) |
|
50 |
| Rotifers (Rotatoria) |
|
600 |
| Threadworms (Nematodes) |
|
2500 |
| Horsehair worms (Nematomorpha) |
|
25 |
|
| Molluscs (Mollusca) |
270 |
280 |
| Snails (Gastropoda) |
244 |
250 |
| Bivalves (Bivalvia) |
26 |
30 |
|
| Segmented worms (Annelida) |
|
225 |
| Bristleworms (Polychaeta) |
|
4 |
| Clitellates (Clitellata) |
|
221 |
|
| Bear animalcules (Tardigrada) |
|
60 |
|
| Arthropods (Arthropoda) |
19,590 |
33,700 |
| Insects (Insecta) |
16,600 |
30,000 |
| Arachnids (Arachnida) |
2375 |
3000 |
| Crustaceans (Crustacea) |
415 |
500 |
| Myriapods (Myriapoda) |
200 |
200 |
|
| Chordates |
351 |
351 |
| Fish and Cyclostomata |
54 |
54 |
| Amphibians (Amphibia) |
18 |
18 |
| Reptiles (Reptilia) |
15 |
15 |
| Birds (Aves) |
175 |
175 |
| Mammals (Mammalia) excluding bats |
59 |
59 |
| Bats* |
30 |
30 |
|
| Total |
|
40,406 |
|
* Source: www.stiftung-fledermausschutz.ch |
