BRITAIN’S ISLAND ODDITIES

GREAT AUK

Large, flightless relative of the razorbill that nested on rocky islands. Known as the penguin of the north and the most recent British bird to go extinct – Scotland’s last bird was probably killed on St Kilda, while the last-known individuals of the species were killed on Eldey Island, off Iceland, in 1844.

LESSER WHITE-TOOTHED SHREW

Named for the colour of its teeth, which have red tips in other shrews. Occurs on Jersey, Sark and the Isles of Scilly, where also known as the Scilly shrew. Uniquely among Britain’s small mammals, it often forages along the seaweedy strandline at low tide for small marine invertebrates.

JERSEY TOAD

In 2014 the toads on Jersey were identified as Bufo spinosus, a separate species from the common, or European, toad found in the rest of the British Isles. This species grows larger, breeds earlier in the year and can use smaller ‘ephemeral’ ponds that dry out in summer. Also occurs in France, Iberia and North Africa.

ALDERNEY HEDGEHOG

Not a distinct species, but a substantial proportion of the island’s 400–600 hedgehogs have ghostly pale spines and pink noses. The blonde – strictly speaking, leucistic – insectivores are probably descended from escaped pets; hedgehogs are not native to Alderney. Inbreeding may have caused the recessive trait to flourish.

SHETLAND MOUSE-EAR

A small, prostrate wildflower growing in just two parts of the island of Unst – one of over 20 plants endemic to Shetland. Unlike the similar chickweed abundant throughout mainland Britain, which many gardeners regard as a ‘weed’, this species is keenly soughtafter by botanists.

RED SQUIRREL

Lost from most of England and Wales, this rusty-coloured rodent clings on in the woodlands of Brownsea Island in Dorset’s Poole Harbour, the Isle of Wight, Jersey and Anglesey. In these island sanctuaries, invasive grey squirrels are either absent or heavily controlled. Also introduced to Tresco in the Isles of Scilly.