9 Native Animals of The Philippines

The Philippines is one of the Southeast Asia countries which is also composed of many islands. The Philippines consists of more than 7000 islands which makes it the second largest archipelago country in Asia.

In general, the country is divided into 3 regions of islands namely Luzon, Visaya and Mindanao. Uniquely, this country does not have a direct land border with any countries. It causes the existence of distinctive and native animals that can be found only on each island in the Philippines.

As the other Southeast Asia countries that have a tropical climate, the Philippines also has the high rainfall, like Indonesia. Speaking of Indonesia, here are the animals in Indonesia’s rainforest.

So the endemic or native animals of the Philippines also have the characteristics that are almost the same as animals from other countries in Southeast Asia.

Tropical animals that usually have bright colours, loud noises and even they depend on fruits for their consumption can be found in The Philippines.

So, what are the endemic or native animals that only live in this Philippines? The following are some native animals that can only be found in the Philippines including mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians. Unfortunately, some of them are now even rare.

1. Tamaraw

One of the native mammalian Philippines is Tamaraw (Bubalu mindorensis). Tamaraw is a four-legged animal that is almost like a wild buffalo with relatively smaller in size.

It is usually also called a Mindoro dwarf buffalo. This is because the population of them live endemic on the Mindoro island.

Tamaraw is different from the other buffalo. The height up to its shoulders is only about 1 meter while its body length is about just 2 meters. It also has a tail about 60 cm in length. Uniquely, It has straight horns.

2. Visayan Warty Pig

Visayan warty pig is a Philippine native animal that is listed in critically endangered criteria according to the IUCN Red List. This animal can be only found on Negros and Panay Islands.

This pig is different from other pig which has a crest on the top of his head to his back. It has a blackish brown colour. Living in the tropics, these pigs eat related to the tropic plants such as roots and fruits. They also eat a variety of agricultural plants.

Then, Visayan warty pig is one of the rarest pig species in the world based on National Geographic, in addition to Bawean warty pig and pygmy hog.

3. The Philippines Mouse-deer

Philippines Mouse-deer is sometimes also called Pilandok in Tagalog. The mammals with the Latin names Tragulus nigricans lives endemic on Balabac Island.

Their length is only about 40 cm and the height is only 18 cm. They include nocturnal and solitary living animals.

Here are 4 most famous types of deer. Is the Philippines mouse-deer one of them?

4. The Philippines Eagle

The Philippines eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world. This animal has become a wild predator among other animals.

The Philippines eagle usually preys on other animals such as mice, bats, pigs and lizards.

It is a Philippines native animal whose majority spread on the Mindanao island, the second largest island in the Philippines. The length of this eagle can reach 1 meter and weighs about 5-7 kilograms.

This Philippines eagle also illustrates a strength, uniqueness and love of freedom. So the Philippines made this bird as a symbol of their country. You can see here about 8 countries that uses animals for its symbol.

No doubt that this bird is often referred to as ‘a natural treasure that only exists in the Philippines’. Unfortunately, wild hunting and habitat destruction endanger this eagle population.

5. The Cebu Flower-pecker

This bird is also called Quadicolor which refers to the four colours of plumage. The males show up the colours around its body which includes blue, red, yellow and white. This is a frugivorous bird which consuming small fruits and flowers.

Unfortunately, the existence of the Cebu flower-pecker in forest of Cebu are still endangered by illegal settlement, road construction, shifting cultivation, illegal logging and other human activities.

6. The Red-bodied Swallowtail

This type of insect is a rare native butterfly of the Philippines. The bodies of these butterflies are really well-coloured in dark red to brown and velvety black or gray with a black stripe pattern. Uniquely, the research proved that this butterfly is very difficult to kill.

7. The Dome Planthopper

Apparently, 70% of 21000 insects in the Philippines are endemic. Like the characteristics of Southeast Asia animals in general which has bright colours, the Philippines also has a type of insect that has bright colours such as the domed planthopper.

The dome planthopper usually lives in an urban garden. The size is quite small, about 5 mm in length.

8. The Philippines Crocodile

The Philippines crocodile is a native crocodile that can be only found in the Philippines. This crocodile has habitat on the Mindoro islands, it causes The Philippines crocodile is also referred to the Mindoro crocodile.

Looking different from other crocodiles, Philippine crocodiles have relatively wider snouts and harder spine. The size of this crocodile is quite small, with a length of about 1.5 m and a weight of about 15 kg.

The Philippine crocodile is a native reptile of the Philippines that is very rare now. But fortunately, a lot of conservation has been made for life continuing this type of crocodile. In fact, there is a strict ban on people who kill the Philippines crocodiles.

For your information, here are 7 differences between crocodiles and alligators.

9. The Philippines Flat-headed Frog

This reptile and amphibian species inhabits endemic in unpolluted swift-flowing mountain streams and rivers in lowland rainforests. The Philippines Flat-headed Frog usually floats near the surface of the water.

It will hide under submerged rocks as it is disturbed. This animal is very sensitive to habitat alteration, pollution and human disturbances. Uniquely, this species is collected by local human for their consumption.

These are the native animals of the Philippines. By knowing this article, we get knowledge about the native animals of one of the southeast asia countries. Even here you can know 5 native animals of Europe.