Endemic Vertebrates of Shetland
There are no species of vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds
or mammals) which are only found in Shetland, although there are three
subspecies of two species of birds and three subspecies of one species
of mouse. In addition, there are several distinctive Shetland breeds of
Shetland Wren Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus
Shetland Wrens are slightly larger and darker than the Wrens found
in the rest of Britain or on mainland Europe. They also have louder and
more varied songs, which are thought to be an adaptation to help males
get heard on boulder beaches, which are one of the favoured habitats
Shetland. When population levels are high birds also breed 'inland',
along streams or around areas of bushes (the latter being the typical
habitat in the rest of Britain). Shetland Wrens breed throughout the
islands except on Out Skerries, where they only breed occasionally, and
on Fair Isle, where there is a different subspecies. The only estimate
of the breeding population is from the beginning of the 21st century,
when there were estimated to be between 1,500 and 3,000 pairs.
- Adult (two left) and juvenile Shetland Wrens on Unst - Mike
Fair Isle Wren Troglodytes troglodytes fridariensis Fair Isle Wren is not as dark as Shetland Wren, but it is still darker
and larger than Wrens found in the rest of Britain or on mainland
Europe. The song is also distinct. As it is only found on Fair Isle
and nowhere else in the world, the population is tiny, varying between
10 and 50 pairs, nearly all breeding on boulder beaches.
Shetland Starling Sturnus vulgaris zetlandicus The
Shetland Starling is only very slightly different to the Common Starling
which breeds over most of the rest of Europe. It has a slightly larger
bill and the juveniles are usually very dark. Shetland Starlings breed
throughout the islands although birds breeding on Fair Isle are the least
distinctive. The only estimate of the breeding population is from the
beginning of the 21st century, when there were estimated to be between
10,000 and 20,000 pairs. [Birds from the Outer Hebrides have been included in zetlandicus,
which would mean this race is not endemic to Shetland, but the most recent
analysis concluded that this treatment was not valid and that only
Shetland birds should be named zetlandicus.]
Shetland Starlings - Mike Pennington
Field Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus granti, A. s. thuleo, A. s.
fridariensis This mouse is normally known as the Wood Mouse over
most of Britain, but is more appropriately known as the 'Hill Mouse' or
'Field Mouse' in Shetland. Like all terrestrial mammals in Shetland,
mice were brought to the islands by humans; in this case accidentally.
It was once thought that mice arrived in Shetland with the Vikings, but
it is now known that they were here long before this. Shetland Field
Mice are larger and darker than mice found in the rest of Britain or on
mainland Europe. Shetland Field Mice breed on all islands inhabited by
humans. The named subspecies are A. s. granti described from
Yell, A. s. thuleo from Foula and A. s. friadriensis from
Fair Isle. The races found elsewhere in Shetland are unknown - it is
likely that the Yell race breeds elsewhere but it is possible that new
races are awaiting description on other islands.
Photo from Unst by Mike Pennington
- Shetland Breeds
- Domestic animals are subject to more selection pressure than wild
animals as they are deliberately selected by man to show certain
traits. Nevertheless, the breeds of animals found in Shetland do show
adaptations to the Shetland environment.
- Shetland Goose - very unusually, the goose is always grey and
white and gander is white
- Shetland Duck - typically black with a white breast
- Shetland Cattle - a small tough breed, in several colour
varieties but often black and white
- Shetland Sheep - a small tough breed, in several colour varieties
but usually white these days
- Shetland Pony - the world famous small pony
- Shetland Pig - long extinct, but probably most similar to a small
- Shetland Sheepdog - a debatable breed, the Kennel Club variety
probably differing significantly from the dogs that were used in
Shetland in the past
- Aspinall, S. & Aspinall, R. 2007. Fair Isle's Favourite Geodytes.
Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report 2006: 128-131.
- Bowie, S. H. U. 2005. Shetland's Native Domestic Animals.
- Johnston, J. L. 1999. A Naturalist's Shetland. T & A. D.
- McGowan, R. Y., Clugston, D. L. & Forrester, R. W. 2003.
Scotland's endemic subspecies. Scottish Birds 24: 18-35.
- Pennington, M.
G., Osborn, K., Harvey, P. V.,
Riddington R., Okill, J.D., Ellis, P.M. & Heubeck M. 2004. The
Birds of Shetland. Christopher Helm, London.