Biodiversity hotspots characteristically are rich in 

Endemic species are native species that are confined to a certain region. Biodiversity hotspots have very high levels of species richness and a high degree of endemism. To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, an area must meet two strict criteria: (1) Contain at least 1,500 endemic species of vascular plants. (2) Have lost at least 70 per cent of its primary native vegetation.