Biodiversity & Speciation

Tropical rainforests exhibit a vast diversity in plant and animal species. The

root for this remarkable speciation has been a query of scientists and ecologists

 for years. A number of theories have been developed for why and how the

tropics can be so diverse.

Interspecific competition results from a high density of species with similar niches in the tropics and limited resources available. Species which "lose" the competition may either become extinct or find a new niche. Direct competition will often lead to one species dominating another by some advantage, ultimately driving it to extinction. Niche partitioning is the other option for a species. This is the separation and rationing of necessary resources by utilizing different habitats, food sources, cover or general behavioral differences. A species with similar food items but different feeding times is an example of niche partitioning.

Animals in the Rainforest(Philippines)

The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is the world's largest eagle, and one of the most threatened raptors. Also known as The

Monkey-eating Eagle.

Tarsier. They are nocturnal animals and should not be disturbed at day time. They commit suicide during captivity due to trauma from touching and loud noise. They’re one of the slowest fetal growth rates of any mammal, taking 6 months to reach a birth weight of 23 grams.

Draco lizards are generally safe from human predators in the jungles of the Philippines because of a common but erroneous belief there that they

are poisonous.

The Mindoro stripe-faced fruit bat (Styloctenium mindorensis), nicknamed the"flying fox" for its foxlike face (although it is not a flying fox bat), is a species of large Philippine megabat. It is endemic to the island of 

Mindoro. The Mindoro stripe-faced fruit bat ranked sixth in the top ten species of 2008, selected by theInternational

Institute for Species Exploration.

The Palawan bearded pig (Sus ahoenobarbus) is a species of in the pig genus (Sus) endemic to the Philippines, where it can

only be found on the archipelago of islands formed by Balabac, Palawan, and the 

Calamian Islands.

The Philippine tube-nosed fruit bat (Nyctimene rabori) locally known in Tagalogas Bayakan is a species of bat in the family 

Pteropodidae. It is endemic to thePhilippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss due to

deforestation.

The Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons) is a critically endangered species in the pig genus (Sus). The Visayan warty pig is endemic to two of the 

Visayan Islands in the central Philippines, and is threatened by habitat loss, food shortages, and hunting – these are the leading causes of the Visayan

warty pig's status as critically endangered

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 flying lemur or Philippine colugo (Cynocephalus volans), known locally as the kagwang, is one of two species of 

flying lemurs, the only two living species in the order Dermoptera. Its population is concentrated in the Mindanao region and Bohol. Lives in

heavily forested areas, living mainly high up in the trees in lowland and mountainous forests or sometimes in coconut and rubber plantations,

rarely coming down to the ground.

The scarlet-collared flowerpecker (Dicaeum retrocinctum) is a member of the family Dicaeidae, about 10 cm long and is endemic to the Philippines.

The red-vented cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia) sometimes called thePhilippine cockatoo or kalangay. Red-vented cockatoos were formerly widely distributed on all larger and many smaller islands of the Philippines,

excluding northern and central Luzon

The Philippine naked-backed fruit bat or Philippine bare-backed fruit bat is a megabat that mostly lives on Negros Island.

The lesser bamboo bat or lesser flat-headed bat (Tylonycteris pachypus meyeri - Phillipines) is one of the smallest species of vesper

bat. Can be found in Tarlac Province, Luzon Islands.

Noted as the world’s smallest hoofed mammal, the Philippines Mouse Deer makes it home in Balabac Island in the extreme southern region of Palawan. Known by locals as the Pilandok, this little gem stands at only 40 centimeters at shoulder height.

Palawan Bearcat – binturong – and is actually a bear, not a cat at all. it hides in the leaves of trees and climbs by using the strength of its tail. The Bearcat is one of the

largest animals to roam the regions of Palawan and though it appears to be friendly and cuddly, it can become very aggressive if cornered.  

Calamian Deer The ‘hog deer’ is unusual, and the only breed of its kind in the world.Living in the Calamian Islands of the Philippines, they are distinguishable from other hog deer due to the unique larger legs.

The Philippine eagle-owl (Bubo philippensis) is a 

vulnerable species of bird belonging to the Strigidae 

family. It is endemic to the 

Philippines, where found in lowland

forests on the islands of 

Catanduanes, Samar, Bohol, 

Mindanao, Luzon,Leyte and possibly 

Sibuyan. It is known locally as the “kuwago” or

“bukao”

The Palawan hornbill (Anthracoceros

marchei), known as Talusi in the Filipino language, is a

smallish forest-dwelling bird. Its plumage is predominantly black,

with a white tail, a dark green gloss on its upper parts and a

large creamy-white beak with a casque typical of the 

hornbill family. It emits loud calls which can be transcribed

as kaaww and kreik-kreik

The Philippine Porcupine, the species is found in primary and secondary forest in the mountains and in the lowlands. This species also inhabits

caves, but is commonly found under tree buttresses or in rock crevices. It endemic and restricted to the Palawan Faunal Region.

Palawan peacock-pheasant is Endemic to the island of Palawan in the Philippines, for which it gets its common name. The Palawan peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis) is a medium-sized (up to 50 cm long) bird in the family Phasianidae.The Palawan peacock-pheasant is featured prominently in the culture of the indigenous peoples of Palawan.