Terestrial Fauna
The Madeira Archipelago belongs to the group of oceanic islands with one of the greatest historical legacies in nature. For instance, the Trocaz Pigeon (Columba trocaz) is the most emblematic terrestrial bird of the Laurissilva Forest (considered Humanity World Heritage by UNESCO in 1999), and it constitutes one of the most ancient examples of the Macronesian avifauna.
As for insects, they represent the most important taxon for Madeira's fauna, since they represent about 75% of all the known animal species of the Archipelago. It is also estimated that approx. 20% of these insects are endemic of the Madeira Island. Similarly, the Madeira Archipelago belongs to the group of oceanic islands with the geatest diversity of terrestrial molluscs per area unit, having 291 species spread out over 31 families and 84 kinds. For example, in the Desertas islands, terrestrial molluscs subspecies of great scientific importance occur, as a result of a former connection to the Madeira island and later isolation which may have originated the divergence of species.
Coastal fauna
According to its localization, physical structure, depth and other characteristics, the coastal area is generally divided into several somewhat homogeneous subunits. In the Madeira Island four areas may be identified: the supralittoral area, the mediolittoral area, the infralittoral area and the circalittoral area. The supralittoral area makes the transition between the terrestrial domain and the sea; the biotic communities are generally poor. Besides some occasional terrestrial visitors such as the wall lizard, some insects and birds, the most characteristic inhabitants of this area include periwinkles (Littorina striata) and the isopod crustacean Ligia italica. The mediolittoral is an area of great hydrodynamics and variability of the abiotic parameters, which allow for the existence of multiple microenvironments and therefore the occurrence of a significant biologic variability. This level distinguishes itself through the presence of barnacles (Chtamalus stellatus), limpets (Patella piperata) as well as cyanophyta algae, several species of small polychaetes, crustaceans and other gastropods, the Anemonia viridis, several nudibranches, like the vinegar plant (Aplysia depilans), and some fish like the Goby (Coryphoblennius galerita). The lower limits of the mediolittoral area and the top of the infralittoral area characterizes itself by the presence of a well-defined strip formed by the Atlantic brown macroalgae (Cystoseira abies-marina).
The infralittoral area is characterized by a wider stability of the environments general conditions, since it is permanently submerged. In the Madeira Island, this area is subdivided according to the nature of the bottoms into hard and mobile substrates. The hard substrate of the infralittoral area is where you may find greater biodiversity and the best-known species revealed by amateur scuba divers, described here in the form of species cards. As we travel deeper, light decreases, as does the presence of photophilia algae, which practically no longer exist at a depth of 15m. The mobile substrate, composed of sediments, is mostly found beginning at a depth of 15m, where it is common to find large colonies of garden eels (Heteroconger longissimus) as well as thornback rays (Raja clavata) and round stingrays (Taeniura grabata). The interior of the sediments is the specific habitat of a diverse community of invertebrates such as polychaetes, decapod crustaceans, gastropod molluscs and bivalve, among many other organisms. The circlittoral area is even more homogenous than the latter one and in some places the bottoms are covered with limestone algae that create a very rich substrate many invertebrate species are associated to. This type of bottom is called maerl. The remaining coastal ichthyofauna typical of Madeira such as the Seabream (Pagrus pagrus), the White Trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) and the Boarfish (Capros aper) also inhabit this area.
Oceanic and Deep Domain Fauna
When you no longer feel the influence of the sea coast, usually 1 mile from the coast, that is where the oceanic domain begins, extending itself to a depth of 200m. In this domain we may find several species of marine birds belonging to the Procellariidae familly, cetaceans (whales and dolphins), fish, such as the tunny and the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta), and many other species with less representation.
As for the deep domain of the Madeira Archipelago, it is divided into the bathyal and abyssal zones. The bathyal zone is located between 200 and 2.500m depth and sponges dominateits sessile fauna, although you may find other species of echinoderms and crustaceans. In the water column, betweeb 800 and 1.300m depth, lives the Black Scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo) and between 900 and 2.500m we find several species of lizard fish (Macrouridae). The abyssal zone corresponds to a very deep area of the ocean, between 2000m and 6000m depth. It characterizes itself for having very low temperatures and no light. In Madeira, you can reach the Abyssal Plain, whose fauna is practically unknown, at 4000 meters.