Fishes, amphibians, 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 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 is 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.

The aim of the pilot project ABOL vertebrates was to determine from which vertebrate species already barcodes on BOLD exist and what potentially barcode-suitable material is already available at Austrian museums. Further, barcodes of selected vertebrate groups should be created. The project was 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. Before the project started, only 168 sequences of 34 vertebrate species were available on BOLD. With the help of a primer set developed and established within the project, which also allows the processing of old museum material with degenerated DNA, a total of 919 COI barcodes of 198 species (fish & lampreys: 511 barcodes/62 species; amphibians: 77/20; reptiles: 62/14; birds: 83/51; mammals: 186/51) could be generated, whereby e.g. all native reptile species are covered. In addition, 77 D-loop and 109 RPS7 sequences were generated for a more detailed investigation of the taxonomic situation and genetic structure of the native gudgeons. Thus, a new, previously unknown, endemic relic species was discovered in the Upper Mur. This was not to be expected in Austria, but shows the lack of knowledge about the native gudgeons.

The barcoding of native vertebrates will be continued within the HRSM project. All obtained barcodes will be available on BOLD in the future.