Species
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Dorset's wildlife
Dorset is an astonishing county for wildlife. The wonderful variety of habitats from
the chalk downlands to the Purbeck heaths and internationally acclaimed coastline
provide an incredible variety of wildlife on our doorstep. Not surprisingly there
are numerous recording groups within the county, some established for many years.
Whenever possible DERC work with local recorders, and encourage them to send in
their species records to the Record Centre. We can then make that data available
to conservation organisations, fellow recorders, ecological consultants, local
authorities and others.
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Dorset’s Flora
Ophrys sphegodes
Early Spider Orchid
Photo: Steve Rogers
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With such a variety of habitats, it is not surprising that Dorset
supports such an abundance of flora. It is home to some of Britain's
rarest lichens, mosses and plants, including:
- Catapyrenium psoromoides
- Parmelia quercina
- Lycopodiella inundata Marsh Clubmoss
- Sphagnum pulchrum
- Erica ciliaris Dorset Heath
- Gentiana pneumonanthe Marsh Gentian
- Ophrys sphegodes Early Spider Orchid
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Dorset’s Fauna
Silver-studded blue butterfly
Plebejus argus Photo: Michael Hammett - English Nature
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Dorset is home to an incredible variety of fauna, ranging from mammals
and birds to invertebrates and marine life. It is well known for its
populations of rare and unusual species including:
- Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris; and
- Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata
However, it is perhaps less well known for some of its other unusual
residents and visitors, such as
- Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis;
- Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca;
- Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus;
- Southern Damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale;
- Silver-studded Blue Butterfly Plebejus argus;
- Starlet Sea Anemone Nematostella vectensis;
- Greater Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum; and
- European nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
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Dorset Environmental Records Centre