Geographical species overview

Rocky cliff faces of Hartland — Hartland – Kate Hind

As most Devon Special Species don’t have Species Opportunity Areas mapped on the Viewer the main geographical areas where they are found (and where actions should be targeted) are set out below.

European otter Lutra lutra, adult female hauled out on a tangle of trees by the side of a river, Bedfordshire, January

Widespread species

Devon Special Species found across Devon in suitable habitat.

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: Otter, Hedgehog, Hazel Dormouse, Harvest Mouse, Barbastelle bat, Serotine bat, Lesser Horseshoe Bat, Grey Seal
Birds: Farmland birds (other than Cirl Bunting); Birds of towns and villages
Fish: Migratory fish (other than Allis Shad)
Reptiles and amphibians: Toad, Great Crested Newt, Adder
Moths and butterflies: Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Brown Hairstreak butterfly
Spiny Cockle
Fungi and lichens: Fungi and lichens of veteran trees, woodlands and ancient grasslands

Holne moor valley mire - water flowing from a large pool in the foreground, a black dartmoor pony in the background

Dartmoor National Park and the SW Dartmoor Downs

Habitats: Bogs, valley mires, heaths, acid grasslands, species-rich rush pastures, ancient woodlands and wood pasture, wildlife-rich grasslands

Devon Special Species:

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Beaver, *Water Vole, *Greater Horseshoe Bat, *Grey Long-eared Bat, Pine Marten
Birds: Heath, moor and rough grassland birds (including *Dunlin, *Curlew, *Snipe, *Whinchat, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Dartford Warbler, Kestrel); Woody habitat birds (*Pied Flycatcher, *Willow Tit, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, *Wood Warbler, Lesser Redpoll, Nightjar); Cirl Bunting
Moths and butterflies: *Marsh Fritillary, *Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, *Pearl-bordered Fritillary, *High Brown Fritillary, *Heath Fritillary, moths of Dartmoor broadleaved woods
Bees, ants and wasps: Billberry Bumblebee
True flies: *Bog Hoverfly; Valley mire flies; *Devon Globetail Hoverfly; Wet woodland flies
Beetles: dung beetles, Blue Ground Beetle
Dragonflies: Southern Damselfly, Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly
Spiders and harvestmen: Dartmoor bog spiders
Molluscs: Upland rainforest snails
Crustacean: Fairy Shrimp
Flowering plants and ferns: Great Sundew, Lesser Butterfly-orchid, Greater Butterfly-orchid, Frog Orchid, Wood Bitter-vetch, Deptford Pink, Forked Spleenwort, Toadflax-leaved St John’s wort, Heath Lobelia; South West Dartmoor Down Specialist plants (Chamomile, Cornish Eyebright, Marsh Clubmoss),
Lichens: Dartmoor granite lichens, upland rainforest lichens, deadwood lichens, veteran tree lichens, wet woodland lichens, lichens of mines and quarries
Bryophytes: Many-leaved Pocket Moss

Orange high brown fritillary on some tiny pink-purple flowers

Exmoor National Park

Habitats: Bogs, valley mires, heaths, species-rich rush pastures, ancient woodlands and wood pastures, maritime cliff and slope, rocky shore

Devon Special Species:

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Beaver, *Grey Long-eared Bat

Birds: Heath, moor and rough grassland birds (Snipe, *Whinchat, Lesser Redpoll, Tree Pipit, Dartford Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Kestrel); Woody habitat birds (*Pied Flycatcher, *Willow Tit, *Wood Warbler, Lesser Redpoll); *cliff-nesting sea birds

Moths and butterflies: *High Brown Fritillary

Bees, ants and wasps: Billberry Bumblebee

Beetles: Six-spotted Longhorn Beetle

Flowering plants and ferns: Rare whitebeams

Lichens: Upland rainforest lichens, deadwood lichens, veteran tree lichens, wet woodland lichens

Bryophytes: Dumortier’s Liverwort (Watersmeet SSSI)

See Morte Point to Somerset Coastal Wildbelt.

North Devon Protected Landscape

Habitats: Maritime cliff and slope, rocky shore, sand dunes and other coastal habitats, Culm mosaic, ancient woodlands

Devon Special Species:

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: Otter, *Beaver catchment, *Greater Horseshoe Bat, Barbastelle bat, Serotine bat, Lesser Horseshoe Bat

Birds: Farmland birds including Cirl Buntings.

Reptiles and amphibians: Great Crested Newt, Toad

Moths and butterflies: Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Bees, ants and wasps: Brown-banded Carder Bumblebee, Moss Carder Bumblebee

See Cornwall to Morte Point Coastal Wildbelt for coastal species.

Marsh fritillary with wings spread out, on a blade of grass

North Devon Biosphere

Habitats: Maritime cliff and slope, rocky shore, sand dunes and other coastal habitats, Culm mosaic (species rich rush-pasture, wet heath, wet woodland)

Devon Special Species:

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Beaver catchment, *Water Voles, *Greater Horseshoe Bat

Birds: Heath, moor and rough grassland birds (Snipe, *Whinchat, Lesser Redpoll, Tree Pipit, Grasshopper Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Kestrel,); Cirl Bunting; Woody habitat birds (*Pied Flycatcher, *Willow Tit, *Wood Warbler, Lesser Redpoll); *cliff-nesting sea birds

Moths and butterflies: *High Brown Fritillary, *Marsh Fritillary, *Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, *Wood White

Bees, ants and wasps: Brown-banded Carder Bumblebee, Moss Carder Bumblebee, Billberry Bumblebee

True flies: Wet woodland flies; *Devon Globetail Hoverfly; Leucophora sponsa (Halsdon)

Crustaceans: Fairy Shrimp

Flowering plants: Lesser Butterfly-orchid, rare whitebeams including Devon Whitebeam

Lichens: Upland rainforest lichens, quarry lichens (Meeth)

Bryophytes: Dumortier’s Liverwort (Watersmeet SSSI)

See Cornwall to Morte Point and Morte Point to Somerset Coastal Wildbelt for coastal species.

Teign Valley and Haldon

Habitats: Heath, species-rich rush pastures, rocky gorge, ancient woodlands, arable

Devon Special Species:

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Beaver, *Water Vole, *Greater Horseshoe Bat, *Grey Long-eared Bat

Birds: Cirl Bunting; Woody habitat birds (*Pied Flycatcher, *Wood Warbler); Nightjar; Dartford Warbler

Moths and butterflies: *Pearl-bordered Fritillary, *High Brown Fritillary, moths of Dartmoor broadleaved woods

Spiders and harvestmen: Teign Gorge rock spiders

Molluscs: Upland rainforest snails

Flowering plants and ferns: Lesser Butterfly-orchid, Greater Butterfly-orchid, Forked Spleenwort, Toadflax-leaved St John’s Wort, arable plants (Narrow-fruited Corn Salad)

Two narrow-headed ants can be seen on a forked birch branch against a blurred background. The ants have dark brown, large teardrop-shaped abdomens and long, slim orange-red bodies, legs and faces. The two ants face each other on the branch. The ants to the right is walking away from a partially visible leaf holding small black aphids that the ants farm.

Bovey Basin

Habitats: Heathland

Devon Special Species:

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Greater Horseshoe Bat, *Grey Long-eared Bat, Bechstein’s Bat

Birds: Cirl Bunting, Woodlark

Reptiles and amphibians: Great Crested Newt

Moths and butterflies: *Pearl-bordered Fritillary, *High Brown Fritillary, heathland moths

Bees, wasps, ants: Heath Potter Wasp, Narrow-headed Ant

Dragonflies: Southern Damselfly

Landscape of the River Dart under a setting sun. The rock-filled river runs through the centre of the shot with steep thickly wooded valleys either side.

South Devon Protected Landscape

Habitats: Coastal habitats, watercourses, arable

Devon Special Species:

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Water Vole, *Greater Horseshoe Bat, *Grey Long-eared Bat

Birds: Cirl Bunting

Reptiles and amphibians: Great Crested Newt

Flowering plants: arable plants

See Torbay to Start Point, Start Point to Bolt Tail and Bolt Tail to Plymouth Coastal Wildbelts.

Plymouth

Habitats: Coastal habitats, calcareous grasslands, green spaces and quarries

Devon Special Species:

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Greater Horseshoe Bat, *Grey Long-eared Bat, Beaver catchment

Spiders: Plymouth arachnids (Horrid Ground Weaver and Hedgehog Harvestman)

Flowering plants: Field Eryngo, Plymouth Pear, Deptford Pink

See Plymouth Coastal Wildbelt.

Greater horseshoe bat hanging from above, its wings wrapped around its body

Tamar Valley Protected Landscape

Habitats: Orchards, mines, small area of heath and acid grassland

Devon Special Species:

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Greater Horseshoe Bat sustenance zone, *Beaver catchments

Reptiles and amphibians: Great Crested Newt

Moths and butterflies: *Pearl-bordered Fritillary, *High Brown Fritillary

Flowering plants: Possibly South West Dartmoor Down specialist plants (Chamomile, Cornish Eyebright, Marsh Clubmoss)

Lichens: Lichens of mines and quarries

Delicate white butterfly on a blade of grass

East Devon Protected Landscape

Habitats: Heaths, coastal habitats, lowland acid grassland, calcareous grassland

Devon Special Species:

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Greater Horseshoe Bat, *Grey Long-eared Bat, *Bechstein’s Bat

Birds: Cirl Bunting, Woodlark, Willow Tit, Tree Pipit, Nightjar, Lesser Redpoll

Moths and butterflies: *Wood White Butterfly, heathland moths

Bees, wasps, ants: Heath Potter Wasp

Dragonflies: Southern Damselfly

Flowering plants: Heath Lobelia

See Dorset to Sidmouth Coastal Wildbelt and Sidmouth to Torbay Coastal Wildbelt.

Hovering southern hawker dragonfly - a green, blue and black patterned dragonfly, with a grassy green background

Blackdown Hills Protected Landscape

Habitats: Mosaic of species-rich rush-pasture, wet heath, wet woodland, lowland acid grassland, heath

Devon Special Species:

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Beaver catchment, *Water Vole, *Greater Horseshoe Bat, *Grey Long-eared Bat, *Bechstein’s Bat

Birds: *Pied Flycatcher, *Willow Tit

Moths and butterflies: *Marsh Fritillary

Flies: Wet woodland flies, valley mire flies

Dragonflies: Southern Damselfly (re-introduction failed)

Flowering plants: Lesser Butterfly-orchid, Great Sundew

Lichens: Wet woodland lichens

An overview of some of the key Devon Special Species found in the Coastal Wildbelt stretches is given below.

Landscape view of white cliffs to the right of the frame, sea to the top left, branscombe beach to the top right and sky in between. At the bottom of the frame is the foreground of the photo why is green, dry coastal scrub and trees.

Dorset to Sidmouth

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Greater Horseshoe Bat, *Bechstein’s Bat, *Grey Long-eared Bat

Bees: Broad-faced Burrow Bee, Buff-banded Mining Bee

Flies: Spanish Snout Cranefly, Least Cigar-gall Fly, Cryptonevra consilimis and the east coast undercliffs fly group

Moths: White Spot Moth, Devonshire Wainscot, Morris’ Wainscot, Everlasting-pea Blister Moth, Wood White and the east coast moth group.

Beetles and crickets: Cliff Tiger Beetle, Scaly Cricket

Crustacean: Fairy Shrimp

Dragonflies: Norfolk Hawker (Seaton marshes)

Flowering plants: Nottingham Catchfly, Early Gentian, White Horehound

Lichens and bryophytes: Maritime lichens, Solm’s Screwmoss

Sidmouth to Torbay

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Greater Horseshoe Bat, *Bechstein’s Bat, *Grey Long-eared Bat

Birds: Cliff-nesting seabirds (Sandy Park), *Cirl Bunting

Flies: Variable Meadow Fly?

Moths: Devonshire Wainscot, Everlasting-pea Blister Moth and the coastal moth group

Flowering plants: Bithynian Vetch (Exmouth and Sandy Park)

Delicate white petals with a yellow centre of the flower

Torbay

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Birds: Cliff-nesting seabirds, *Cirl Bunting

Moths: Torbay limestone moths

Beetles: Roundhead Roughneck Rove Beetle

Moths: Goldilocks Case Bearer, White-headed Detritus and the limestone moth group, Devonshire Wainscot, Beautiful Gothic and the coastal moth group.

Plants: Torbay limestone specialists plants (Goldilocks Aster, Small Restharrow, Honewort, Small Hare’s-ear, White Rock-rose. Whitebeams

Maritime lichens

Bryophytes: Rabbit Moss, Levier’s Beardless-moss

Fungi

Brown norfolk hawker dragonfly on a blade of grass

Brixham to Start Point

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer.

Birds: *Cirl Bunting

Bees:

Flies: Variable Meadow Fly

Beetles: Lizard Weevil

Moths: Devonshire Wainscot, Beautiful Gothic and other coastal group moths

False Flat-backed Millipede

Dragonflies: Norfolk Hawker (Slapton)

Plants: rare arable plants, Strapwort (Slapton)

Maritime lichens

A mediterranean oil beetle emerges from the centre of the frame, facing left as it climbs over short green grass. The beetle is partially visible with its shiny legs, head, neck, and 'fake-wings' clearly visible, and the beginning of its rotund, long matte-black, rear section apparent as it climbs upwards. Its antennae and legs have clear sections.

Start Point to Bolt Tail

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Birds: *Cirl Bunting

Bees: Six-banded Nomad Bee and Long-horned Bee

Flies: Devon Red-legged Robberfly, Variable Meadow Fly

Spiders: Moon Spider and other Prawle cliff spiders

Beetles: Oil beetles, Lizard Weevil

Moths: Devonshire Wainscot, Beautiful Gothic and other coastal group moths

Plants: rare arable plants, Slender Bird’s-foot Trefoil

Male cirl bunting, a green-yellow colour - perched on a branch with a blue sky behind

Bolt Tail to Plymouth

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Birds: *Cirl Bunting

Beetles: Lizard Weevil

Flies: Variable Meadow Fly

Moths: Devonshire Wainscot, Beautiful Gothic and moths in the coast group

Flowering plants: Shoredock, rare arable plants, Slender Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Dwarf Spikerush (Avon estuary)

Bryophytes of south Devon wooded creeks (Awl-leaved Ditrichum, Turner’s Threadwort)

Plymouth

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Fish: Allis Shad

Flowering plants: Triangular Clubrush

Bryophytes of south Devon wooded creeks

Cornwall to Morte Point

*= Species Opportunity Area mapped on the Viewer

Mammals: *Greater Horseshoe Bat

Birds: *Cirl Bunting

Bees: Brown-banded Carder Bumblebee and the Moss Carder Bumblebee

Flies: North Devon sand dune flies group

Beetles: Lizard Weevil, Click Beetle

Moths: Devonshire Wainscot, Scarce Blackneck and other coastal moths, sand dune moth group

Spiders: Yellow-striped Bear Spider

Molluscs: Sandbowl Snail

Flowering plants: Sand dune plants

Lichens: Southern oceanic and maritime lichens

Bryophytes: Cordate Beardmoss

Celtic sea-slug traversing empty dog whelk egg cases (August 2002) - Peter Barfield

Morte Point to Somerset

Birds: Cliff-nesting seabirds

Moths: Devonshire Wainscot, Scarce Blackneck and moths in the coast group.

Molluscs: Celtic Sea Slug

Plants: Whitebeams

Lichens: Maritime lichens

Lundy

Birds: Cliff-nesting seabirds

Beetles: Lundy Cabbage Beetle

Plants: Lundy Cabbage

Lichens: Maritime lichens