The Philippines is known for its rich biodiversity, and it is home to a multitude of species that can't be found anywhere else on Earth. Here are ten unique species that are endemic to the Philippines:
1. Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
Habitat: Rainforests in Luzon, Leyte, Samar, and Mindanao
Status: Critically Endangered
Fact: It is one of the largest eagles in the world and is considered the national bird of the Philippines.
2. Tarsier (Carlito syrichta)
Habitat: Forests in Bohol, Leyte, Samar, and Mindanao
Status: Near Threatened
Fact: This tiny primate has huge eyes, each of which is as big as its brain.
3. Philippine Mouse-Deer (Tragulus nigricans)
Habitat: Forests of Balabac Island
Status: Vulnerable
Fact: Known locally as “pilandok,” it is one of the smallest hoofed animals in the world.
4. Palawan Bearcat (Arctictis binturong whitei)
Habitat: Forests of Palawan
Status: Vulnerable
Fact: Despite its name, it’s not actually a bear or a cat; it’s a species of viverrid, related to civets and genets.
5. Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)
Habitat: Freshwater habitats in Luzon, Mindoro, Masbate, Samar, and Mindanao
Status: Critically Endangered
Fact: This is one of the most endangered freshwater crocodiles in the world.
6. Mindoro Bleeding-Heart (Gallicolumba platenae)
Habitat: Forests of Mindoro
Status: Critically Endangered
Fact: Named for the reddish patch on its chest, which looks like a bleeding wound.
7. Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia)
Habitat: Palawan and nearby islands
Status: Critically Endangered
Fact: Known locally as “katala,” this bird has a distinctive, retractable crest.
8. Luzon Bleeding-Heart (Gallicolumba luzonica)
Habitat: Forests of Luzon
Status: Near Threatened
Fact: It has a red “bleeding” chest like the Mindoro bleeding-heart.
9. Visayan Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi)
Habitat: Forests of the Visayan Islands
Status: Endangered
Fact: It is the largest endemic species of deer in the Philippines.
10. Waling-Waling Orchid (Vanda sanderiana)
Habitat: Mindanao
Status: Vulnerable
Fact: Known as the “Queen of Philippine Orchids,” the waling-waling is famous for its large, vibrant flowers.
These species are not just unique; many of them are also in critical need of conservation efforts to protect them from habitat loss, hunting, and other threats. The survival of these unique species is intrinsically tied to the conservation of the Philippines’ natural habitats.
