Endemism

Endemism refers to species that are native to and found exclusively in a specific geographic area. This can be a country, an island, or a particular habitat. For example, the Galápagos tortoise is endemic to the Galápagos Islands; it doesn’t exist naturally anywhere else. Endemic species often evolve in isolation, leading to unique traits suited to their environment. Endemism is important for biodiversity, as it highlights the ecological richness of particular regions and emphasizes the need for conservation efforts to protect these unique species from threats like habitat loss and climate change.