Fishes, amphibian, reptiles, birds and mammals constitute the taxon Vertebrata, or vertebrates. The very different climatic and hydrologic environments in Austria are mirrored by a large variety of habitats and, as a result, also vertebrate diversity. According to the present Red Lists there are 460 species of vertebrates in Austria (84 fishes, 20 amphibians, 14 reptiles, 241 (breeding) birds and 101 mammals), about 10% of which are threatened with extinction and a large number of which is at least potentially imperiled. Seven species (6 fishes, 1 mammal) are endemic to Austria, i. e. occur nowhere else.

Vertebrates are undoubtedly the native animals best known to lay people; among the invertebrates, perhaps only butterflies are similarly well-known and popular. Vertebrates are therefore well suited to function as flagship and umbrella species because there are an immense number of invertebrates, plants and fungi that occur in the same habitats and that would hence benefit from the protection of vertebrates. Although vertebrates are undoubtedly the best-studied animal group, there are still often surprising research results, even in taxonomy, for instance when what was previously believed to be a single species turns out to comprise two or more different (so-called cryptic) species. A first but important hint at such an underestimation of biodiversity can be given by barcoding. By means of a geographically and taxonomically comprehensive barcoding approach new research projects can thus be instigated which in turn will yield new knowledge about and a deeper understanding of Austrian biodiversity.

In the course of the pilot project ABOL Vertebrates, we aim at genetically characterizing the complete Austrian vertebrate fauna. The project is led by the Department of Zoology at the Karl-Franzens-University Graz, in cooperation with the Natural History Museum Vienna and further institutions throughout the country.