Hobbies And Interests
Vascular Plants
The Azores contain 947 species of vascular plants although many of these plants are not exclusive to the Azores and exist in many other parts of the world. Some endemic plants in the Azores include the Azores butterfly orchid, the yellow sedge and creeping sea-grass. In addition, non-native plants in the islands include the hollyhock, rose garlic and the floss flower.
Vertebrates
There are 373 species of vertebrates that make their home in the Azores. These animals range from birds and mammals to lizards. Only a small number of these species are exclusive to the Azores. They include the Azorean bat, the Azores bullfinch and Monteiro's storm-petrel. The number of non-endemic species is much broader. Weasels, the glossy ibis and lizards all make their home on the Azores, in addition to elsewhere on the planet.
Arthropods and Mollusks
Terrestrial arthropods, which include insects, spiders and centipedes, and terrestrial mollusks, such as snails, comprise a large portion of the species population on the Azores. Arthropods make up at least 2,298 species, with a minimum of 266 species that are endemic to the islands, and at least 111 species of terrestrial mollusks live on the islands. Some species of arthropods include the click beetle, the Azorean diving beetle and the Azorean small scavenger beetle. Some mollusk species include Columella aspera and Helix aspersa, two of dozens of species colloquially known as snails. Arion distintus and Deroceras laeve are two examples of many mollusk species collectively called slugs.
Lichens and Mosses
Lichens and fungi make up at least 573 species on the Azores although the total number has not been fully settled. Bryophytes, such as mosses and liverworts, make up at least 438 species. Some common bryophytes include the Azorean whipwort, the Azorean pocket-moss and bog moss. Many of the lichens do not have common names but include species such as Sagiolechia atlantica and Ochrolechia azorica.