Species

Scotland's diverse habitats support thousands of species. Some are mainly found in Scotland and others are found all over the world. Some live here all the time and others are visitors. Some are large and well known like dolphins and pine trees, others are small and less well known like lichens and ants, their beauty often only revealed under a magnifying glass. Together they fill Scotland with colour, movement and sound and many also have an important role in keeping a clean and productive environment.

SNH's Species Action Framework sets out a strategic approach to species management in Scotland.

Species Introductions: The good, the bad and the ugly! From the reintroduction of native species to the problems caused by invasive non-native species, find out about the big issues.

Find out about changes to Scottish wildlife over time in 'Our changing environment' .

Algae

Discover algae! From giant marine kelp forests to microscopic plankton, algae are immensely productive and form the basis of many food-chains.

Amphibians and reptiles

Want to tell the difference between a reptile and an amphibian? Find out more about our frogs, newts, toads, lizards, snakes and marine turtles.

Birds

Scotland has international importance for its huge summer seabird colonies and giant flocks of wintering ducks, geese and waders. Find out about these and other birds.

Fish

More than 160 species of fish occur in Scotland's lochs, rivers, firths and inshore waters. Learn more about the river running Atlantic salmon, mysterious eel and more.

Flowering plants

From alpine plants in our high mountain corries to our colourful coastal grasslands, find out more about Scotland's many rare and beautiful plants.

Ferns

There is much more to ferns than first meets the eye. Meet some old friends and get a glimpse of the more unusual.

Fungi

More than just mushrooms, fungi tidy up litter, help plants grow and are responsible for many of our major medicines.

Invertebrates

Find out about beetles, butterflies, dragonflies, ants, bees, jellyfish, slugs, snails, mussels and much more, inhabiting our land, rivers, lochs and seas.

Lichens

Scotland is home to a staggering variety of lichens. Find out what they are and how they add colour and texture to Scotland's landscape.

Mammals

From the small to the large, from predatory pine martens and otters to ocean whales and dolphins discover more about Scotland's mammals.

Mosses & liverworts

With nearly a thousand species, Scotland is internationally important for these tiny plants. Despite being small, they carpet our woodlands and form huge expanses of peat.

Species sightings in your area

Use our interactive map to find out about species sightings recorded in your area.