Expert range maps of global mammal distributions harmonised to three taxonomic authorities
Authors: Marsh Charles J. , Sica Yanina V. , Burgin Connor J. , Dorman Wendy A. , Anderson Robert C. , del Toro Mijares Isabel , Vigneron Jessica G. , Barve Vijay , Dombrowik Victoria L. , Duong Michelle , Guralnick Robert , Hart Julie A. , Maypole J. Krish , McCall Kira , Ranipeta Ajay , Schuerkmann Anna , Torselli Michael A. , Lacher Thomas , Mittermeier Russell A. , Rylands Anthony B. , Sechrest Wes , Wilson Don E. , Abba Agustín M. , Aguirre Luis F. , Arroyo‐Cabrales Joaquín , Astúa Diego , Baker Andrew M. , Braulik Gill , Braun Janet K. , Brito Jorge , Busher Peter E. , Burneo Santiago F. , Camacho M. Alejandra , Cavallini Paolo , de Almeida Chiquito Elisandra , Cook Joseph A. , Cserkész Tamás , Csorba Gábor , Cuéllar Soto Erika , da Cunha Tavares Valeria , Davenport Tim R. B. , Deméré Thomas , Denys Christiane , Dickman Christopher R. , Eldridge Mark D. B. , Fernandez‐Duque Eduardo , Francis Charles M. , Frankham Greta , Franklin William L. , Freitas Thales , Friend J. Anthony , Gadsby Elizabeth L. , Garbino Guilherme S. T. , Gaubert Philippe , Giannini Norberto , Giarla Thomas , Gilchrist Jason S. , Gongora Jaime , Goodman Steven M. , Gursky‐Doyen Sharon , Hackländer Klaus , Hafner Mark S. , Hawkins Melissa , Helgen Kristofer M. , Heritage Steven , Hinckley Arlo , Hintsche Stefan , Holden Mary , Holekamp Kay E. , Honeycutt Rodney L. , Huffman Brent A. , Humle Tatyana , Hutterer Rainer , Ibáñez Ulargui Carlos , Jackson Stephen M. , Janecka Jan , Janecka Mary , Jenkins Paula , Juškaitis Rimvydas , Juste Javier , Kays Roland , Kilpatrick C. William , Kingston Tigga , Koprowski John L. , Kryštufek Boris , Lavery Tyrone , Lee Thomas E. , Leite Yuri L. R. , Novaes Roberto Leonan M. , Lim Burton K. , Lissovsky Andrey , López‐Antoñanzas Raquel , López‐Baucells Adrià , MacLeod Colin D. , Maisels Fiona G. , Mares Michael A. , Marsh Helene , Mattioli Stefano , Meijaard Erik , Monadjem Ara , Morton F. Blake , Musser Grace , Nadler Tilo , Norris Ryan W. , Ojeda Agustina , Ordóñez‐Garza Nicté , Pardiñas Ulyses F. J. , Patterson Bruce D. , Pavan Ana , Pennay Michael , Pereira Calebe , Prado Joyce , Queiroz Helder L. , Richardson Matthew , Riley Erin P. , Rossiter Stephen J. , Rubenstein Daniel I. , Ruelas Dennisse , Salazar‐Bravo Jorge , Schai‐Braun Stéphanie , Schank Cody J. , Schwitzer Christoph , Sheeran Lori K. , Shekelle Myron , Shenbrot Georgy , Soisook Pipat , Solari Sergio , Southgate Richard , Superina Mariella , Taber Andrew B. , Talebi Maurício , Taylor Peter , Vu Dinh Thong , Ting Nelson , Tirira Diego G. , Tsang Susan , Turvey Samuel T. , Valdez Raul , Van Cakenberghe Victor , Veron Geraldine , Wallis Janette , Wells Rod , Whittaker Danielle , Williamson Elizabeth A. , Wittemyer George , Woinarski John , Zinner Dietmar , Upham Nathan S. , Jetz Walter 
Published: March 2022

Aim

Comprehensive, global information on species' occurrences is an essential biodiversity variable and central to a range of applications in ecology, evolution, biogeography and conservation. Expert range maps often represent a species' only available distributional information and play an increasing role in conservation assessments and macroecology. We provide global range maps for the native ranges of all extant mammal species harmonised to the taxonomy of the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) mobilised from two sources, the Handbook of the Mammals of the World (HMW) and the Illustrated Checklist of the Mammals of the World (CMW).

Location

Global.

Taxon

All extant mammal species.

Methods

Range maps were digitally interpreted, georeferenced, error‐checked and subsequently taxonomically aligned between the HMW (6253 species), the CMW (6431 species) and the MDD taxonomies (6362 species).

Results

Range maps can be evaluated and visualised in an online map browser at Map of Life (mol.org) and accessed for individual or batch download for non‐commercial use.

Main conclusion

Expert maps of species' global distributions are limited in their spatial detail and temporal specificity, but form a useful basis for broad‐scale characterizations and model‐based integration with other data. We provide georeferenced range maps for the native ranges of all extant mammal species as shapefiles, with species‐level metadata and source information packaged together in geodatabase format. Across the three taxonomic sources our maps entail, there are 1784 taxonomic name differences compared to the maps currently available on the IUCN Red List website. The expert maps provided here are harmonised to the MDD taxonomic authority and linked to a community of online tools that will enable transparent future updates and version control.