Wildlife of the Philippines
Encyclopedia
The Wildlife of the Philippines has a significant number of plant
and animal
species that are endemic in the Philippines
. The country's surrounding waters reportedly have the highest level of biodiversity in the world. The Philippines is considered as one of the seventeen Megadiverse countries
as well as global biodiversity hotspot. In the 2000 Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), 418 of the country's 52,177 species were listed as threatened.
The Philippines has among the highest rates of discovery in the world with sixteen new species of mammals discovered in the last ten years. Because of this, the rate of endemism for the Philippines has risen and likely will continue to rise.
There are 191 mammal species in the Philippines, of which 8 are critically endangered, 13 are endangered, 30 are vulnerable, and 1 is near-threatened. 1 of the species listed for the Philippines is considered to be extinct. Endemic species like the Tamaraw
of Mindoro, Philippine Tarsier
which is one of the smallest species of monkeys in the world can be found in the country. The Philippines also have three endemic species of deer namely the Philippine Deer, the Calamian Deer
and the Philippine Spotted Deer
. The Philippine Mouse-deer which is also endemic in the Philippines, does not belong to the deer family Cervidae, but is a member of the chevrotain
family.
and the critically endangered and national bird of the Philippines, Philippine Eagle
.
The endemic freshwater crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis is critically endangered and is considered the most threatened crocodilian in the world. In 1982, wild populations were estimated to be only 500-1000 individuals; by 1995 a mere 100 crocodiles remained living in the wild. The recent discovery of a population of this species in the Sierra Madre mountains of Luzon brings new hope for its conservation. Projects were being made in an effort to save the crocodiles. The Crocodile Rehabilitation, Observance and Conservation (CROC) Project of the Mabuwaya Foundation is active in carrying out such projects.
Other unique and threatened reptiles include Gray's monitor
and the Philippine Pond Turtle
. A newly discovered monitor lizard the Panay Monitor Lizard
from the island of Panay is one of the only two species of monitor lizards that are specialized frugivores.
, a freshwater sardine found only in Taal Lake. Unfortunately, Lake Lanao, in Mindanao, seems to be experiencing the country's most catastrophic extinction event, with nearly all of the lake’s endemic fish species now almost certainly extinct, primarily due to the introduction of Tilapia, which is an edible fish, for the expansion of the fishing industry. other exotic species were also introduced to the lake.
About 70 percent of the Philippines’ nearly 21,000 recorded insect species are found in the country. In addition about one-third of the 915 butterflies found here are endemic to the country, and over 110 of the more than 130 species of tiger beetle
are found nowhere else. One of the largest butterflies in the world and the largest in the Philippines, the Magellan Birdwing
can be found here. The largest moth, the Atlas moth, can be found in the Philippines
The broad lowland and hill rain forests of the Philippines, which are mostly gone today, were dominated by at least 45 species of dipterocarps. These massive trees were abundant to up to 1,000 meters above sea level. Other important tree species here include giant figs, which provide food for fruit bats, parrots, and monkeys, and Pterocarpus indicus, like the dipterocarps, is valued for its timber.
A few species of the Rafflesia are found in the Philippines, one of them is the Rafflesia philippensis.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
and animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
species that are endemic in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The country's surrounding waters reportedly have the highest level of biodiversity in the world. The Philippines is considered as one of the seventeen Megadiverse countries
Megadiverse countries
The megadiverse countries are a group of countries that harbor the majority of the Earth's species and are therefore considered extremely biodiverse...
as well as global biodiversity hotspot. In the 2000 Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), 418 of the country's 52,177 species were listed as threatened.
The Philippines has among the highest rates of discovery in the world with sixteen new species of mammals discovered in the last ten years. Because of this, the rate of endemism for the Philippines has risen and likely will continue to rise.
Mammals
Tamaraw
The Tamaraw or Mindoro Dwarf Buffalo is a small, hoofed mammal belonging to the family Bovidae. It is endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines and is the only endemic Philippine bovine. It is believed, however, to have once also thrived on the greater island of Luzon...
of Mindoro, Philippine Tarsier
Philippine Tarsier
The Philippine Tarsier , known locally as the Kupal in Cebuano/Visayan and Mamag in Luzon, is an endangered species of tarsier endemic to the Philippines. It is found in the southeastern part of the archipelago, particularly in the islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao...
which is one of the smallest species of monkeys in the world can be found in the country. The Philippines also have three endemic species of deer namely the Philippine Deer, the Calamian Deer
Calamian Deer
The Calamian Deer, Hyelaphus calamianensis, also known as Calamian Hog Deer, is an endangered species of deer found only in the Calamian Group of Islands of Palawan province of the Philippines...
and the Philippine Spotted Deer
Philippine Spotted Deer
The Visayan Spotted Deer , also known as the Philippine Spotted Deer, is a nocturnal and endangered species of deer located primarily in the rainforests of the Visayan islands of Panay and Negros though it once roamed other islands such as Cebu, Guimaras, Leyte, Masbate, and Samar...
. The Philippine Mouse-deer which is also endemic in the Philippines, does not belong to the deer family Cervidae, but is a member of the chevrotain
Chevrotain
Chevrotains, also known as mouse deer, are small ungulates that make up the family Tragulidae, the only members of the infraorder Tragulina. There are 10 living species in three genera, but there are also several species only known from fossils...
family.
Birds
There are 612 species of birds found in the Philippines, of which 194 are endemic, 3 have been introduced by humans, and 52 are rare or accidental. 67 species are globally threatened. This includes the Rufous HornbillRufous Hornbill
The Rufous Hornbill , also known as Philippine Hornbill and, locally, as Kalaw is a large species of hornbill.-Distribution and habitat:...
and the critically endangered and national bird of the Philippines, Philippine Eagle
Philippine Eagle
The Philippine Eagle , also known as the Monkey-eating Eagle, is an eagle of the family Accipitridae that is endemic to forests in the Philippines. It has brown and white-coloured plumage, and a shaggy crest, and generally measures in length and weighs...
.
Reptiles and Amphibians
There are also 332 species of reptiles and amphibians were discovered in the archipelago, 215 of them are endemic. It is believed that there are not more than 14 of the 114 total species of snakes in the country are venomous. Several species of reptiles and amphibians remains undiscovered. Unfortunately, several of these species were believed to have disappeared without ever being discovered.The endemic freshwater crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis is critically endangered and is considered the most threatened crocodilian in the world. In 1982, wild populations were estimated to be only 500-1000 individuals; by 1995 a mere 100 crocodiles remained living in the wild. The recent discovery of a population of this species in the Sierra Madre mountains of Luzon brings new hope for its conservation. Projects were being made in an effort to save the crocodiles. The Crocodile Rehabilitation, Observance and Conservation (CROC) Project of the Mabuwaya Foundation is active in carrying out such projects.
Other unique and threatened reptiles include Gray's monitor
Gray's monitor
Gray's monitor is a large monitor lizard known only from lowland dipterocarp forest in the east of Luzon and a few smaller adjacent islands in the Philippines such as Polillo Island, where it is locally known as the butaan. It belongs to the subgenus Philippinosaurus. It is largely arboreal and...
and the Philippine Pond Turtle
Philippine Pond Turtle
Siebenrockiella leytensis is a species of freshwater turtle endemic to the Philippines. It is classified as critically endangered. It is known as the Philippine forest turtle, the Philippine pond turtle, the Palawan turtle, or the Leyte pond turtle...
. A newly discovered monitor lizard the Panay Monitor Lizard
Panay Monitor Lizard
The Panay Monitor Lizard is an endangered monitor lizard native to Panay Island in the Philippines. This frugivore lives in the large trees in tropical moist forests, and is threatened both by the destruction of its habitat through deforestation and overhunting...
from the island of Panay is one of the only two species of monitor lizards that are specialized frugivores.
Freshwater Fish
The Philippines has more than 280 inland fish, including nine endemic genera and more than 65 endemic species, many of which are confined to single lakes. An example is Sardinella tawilisSardinella tawilis
Sardinella tawilis is a freshwater sardine found exclusively in the Philippines. It is unique in that it is the only member of the family Clupeidae that is known to exist entirely in freshwater. Locally, they are known in Filipino as tawilis.-Anatomy and Morphology:S...
, a freshwater sardine found only in Taal Lake. Unfortunately, Lake Lanao, in Mindanao, seems to be experiencing the country's most catastrophic extinction event, with nearly all of the lake’s endemic fish species now almost certainly extinct, primarily due to the introduction of Tilapia, which is an edible fish, for the expansion of the fishing industry. other exotic species were also introduced to the lake.
Insects
Tiger beetle
The tiger beetles are a large group of beetles known for their aggressive predatory habits and running speed. The fastest species of tiger beetle can run at a speed of 9 km/h , which, relative to its body length, is about 22 times the speed of former Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson, the...
are found nowhere else. One of the largest butterflies in the world and the largest in the Philippines, the Magellan Birdwing
Troides magellanus
The Magellan Birdwing is a large and striking Birdwing butterfly found in the Philippines and on Taiwan's Orchid Island.This butterfly is named for the explorer Ferdinand Magellan who was killed in the Philippines in 1521....
can be found here. The largest moth, the Atlas moth, can be found in the Philippines
Flora
At the very least, one-third of the more than 9,250 vascular plant species native to the Philippines are endemic. There are only endemic species but no endemic whole plant families to the country. The families of gingers, begonias, gesneriads, orchids, pandans, palms, and dipterocarps are particularly high in endemic species. For example two-thirds of the 150 species of palms found in the country are found nowhere else in the world. 700 of the 1,000 species of orchids found in the Philippines are unique to its wildlife.The broad lowland and hill rain forests of the Philippines, which are mostly gone today, were dominated by at least 45 species of dipterocarps. These massive trees were abundant to up to 1,000 meters above sea level. Other important tree species here include giant figs, which provide food for fruit bats, parrots, and monkeys, and Pterocarpus indicus, like the dipterocarps, is valued for its timber.
A few species of the Rafflesia are found in the Philippines, one of them is the Rafflesia philippensis.
See also
- List of threatened species of the Philippines
- List of endemic birds of the Philippines
- List of mammals of the Philippines