10 Unique Endemic Species in the Philippines

Palawan fruit bat

1. The Palawan fruit bat (Acerodon leucotis), also known as the Palawan flying fox, is a species of megabat found in forests of Palawan,Balabac and Busuanga in the Philippines. It is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and is declining due to hunting and habitat loss.


The Philippine flat-headed frog

2. The Philippine flat-headed frog (Barbourula busuangensis) is a species of frog in the Bombinatoridae family. It is also known under the common names “Busuanga jungle toad”, “Philippine aquatic frog”, “Busuanga disk-tongued toad”, and “Busuanga discoglossid frog” (the last two names reflect the earlier placement of the genus Barbourula in the family Discoglossidae, but are misleading under current taxonomy). It is endemic to the Busuanga, Culion, Balabac, and Palawan islands in the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical dryforests, moist lowland forests, moist montane forests, rivers, and intermittent rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.


Philippine dwarf kingfisher

3. The Philippine dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx melanurus) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family that is endemic to the Philippines.


Philippine flying lemur

4. The Philippine flying lemur (Cynocephalus volans), known locally as the kagwang, is one of two species of flying lemurs, the only two living species in the order Dermoptera. Additionally, it is the only member of the genus Cynocephalus. The other species is the Sunda flying lemur. Recent research from genetic analysis suggests two other species, the Bornean flying lemur and the Javan flying lemur, may exist, as well, but they have yet to be officially classified so. Although called a flying lemur, it cannot fly and is not a lemur. Both species of Dermoptera are classified under the superorder Euarchonta which includes the Scandentia and the primates, as well as an extinct order of mammals, the Plesiadapiformes.


Samar Squirrel

5. The Samar Squirrel (Sundasciurus samarensis) is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its naturalhabitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.


visayanwattledbroadbill

6. The Visayan broadbill (Eurylaimus samarensis) is a species of bird in the Eurylaimidae family. It is endemic to the islands of Samar,Leyte and Bohol in the central Philippines.


Palawan flycatcher

7. The Palawan flycatcher (Ficedula platenae) is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.


Kalinga narrowmouth toad

8. The Kalinga narrowmouth toad (Kaloula kalingensis) is a species of frog in the Microhylidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, arable land, pastureland, and plantations.


Mindanao treeshrew

9.  The Mindanao treeshrew (Urogale everetti), also called the Philippine tree shrew, is a species of treeshrew endemic to the Mindanaoregion in the Philippines. It is the only member of the genus Urogale. The scientific name commemorates British colonial administrator and zoological collector Alfred Hart Everett.


Mindoro Black Rat

10. The Mindoro Black Rat (Rattus mindorensis) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in the Philippines.


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