Philippine
Endemic Species
endemic species: a species
which is only found in a
given region or location and
nowhere else in the world.
This definition requires that the region that the species is endemic
to, be defined, such as:
 site endemic (e.g. just found on Mount Celaque);
 national endemic (e.g. found only in Honduras);
 geographical range endemic (e.g. found in the
Himalayan region, which however covers several
Himalayan countries and therefore is not a national
endemic);
 political region endemic (e.g. found in countries of
Central America).
State of Philippine Biodiversity
NewCAPP (New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project
http://www.newcapp.org/about-philippine-biodiversity.php
 more than 52,177 described
species, half of which are endemic
 more than 1,130 terrestrial wildlife
species recorded for the
Philippines (49 percent or half are
endemic); 157 are threatened (128
are threatened endemic)
 between 10,000 and 14,000
species of vascular and nonvascular plants, more than half of
which are endemic to the
Philippines
 estimated total of 359 species of
amphibians (101 species) and
reptiles (258 species) are now
known in the country. Of the 359
species, 246 are endemic –
currently the highest known
percentage endemism among
vertebrates.
 576 species of birds (195 are
endemic). This record makes the
Philippines the 4th country in the
world terms of bird endemism.
About 45 species are either
extinct in the wild, critical, or
endangered.
 174 mammalian species (111
are endemic), the archipelago
has the greatest concentration
of terrestrial mammalian
diversity in the world and the
greatest concentration of
endemic mammals in the
world on a per unit basis.
 mammal assemblage in the
Philippines is the 8th most
threatened in the world, with
50 threatened species.
Importance of Endemic Species
in Biodiversity
 threats pointed to endemic species establishes
more risk of extinction compared to the broadly
distributed species
 “when an endemic plant species becomes extinct,
it takes with it between 10 and 30 endemic
animal species “ - Climate Change and Biodiversity,
edited by Thomas E. Lovejoy and Lee Hannah
Importance of Endemic Species
in Biodiversity
 “some endemics of distinct regions may
function as a sort of collective insurance for
continued genetic diversity in the face of
rapid changes, while others are at greatest
risk of extinction as conditions change”
- Endemic Species are Your Home Team for the Ecosystem
(http://www.stateconservation.org/mississippi/?q=art&id=93)
Importance of Endemic Species
in Biodiversity
“biodiversity hotspots' where exceptional
concentrations of endemic species are
undergoing exceptional loss of habitat” could
constitute a kind of “silver bullet” for
biodiversity conservation” (seminal paper in
Nature by Norman Myers et al.24 February, 2000. Vol.
403)
Mindanao Tree
Shrew
Urogale everetti
Range Description:
Endemic to the Mindanao Faunal Region, Philippines. Found
in Dinagat, Mindanao (Bukidnon, Davao del Sur, Misamis
Occidental, Misamis Oriental, South Cotabato, Surigao del
Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur provinces), and Siargao.
Population Trend:
Stable
Threat Category:
LC (Least Concern)
Threats:
The major threat is deforestation that has occurred at lower
elevations, and much of this species' habitat below 1000 m
has been lost.
Conservation Actions:
This species occurs in several protected areas.
Mammal Species
Philippine Dawn
Fruit Bat
Eonycteris robusta
(Chiroptera - Pteropodidae)
Mammal Species
Range Description:
Endemic to the Philippines.
Found in most large islands
except the Palawan Faunal
Region and the Batanes and
Babuyan group of islands.
Population Trend:
Decreasing
Threat Category:
NT (Near Threatened)
Threats:
Deforestation and cave
disturbance.
Conservation Actions:
E. robusta occurs in protected
areas and the caves in which
the species roosts are given
nominal protection under the
Cave Management Act, but
enforcement of this
legislation is weak. Habitat
loss has been high in the past
but the species is perhaps less
threatened currently than it
was 20 years ago (L. Heaney
pers. comm. 2006).
It is probably hunted in parts
of its range, along with other
cave-roosting bats, although
there is no direct evidence of
this.
Palawan Stink
Badger
Mydaus marchei
(Carnivora - Mephitidae)
Range Description:
This species is endemic to the Palawan Island Group,
situated between Borneo and the Philippines. Found on
Palawan Island, Busuanga, and Calauit, and is not found on
some of the smaller outlying coral islands like Rasa and
Malinau, and also not on the larger land-bridge island of
Dumaran (Widmann and Widmann, 2004).
Population Trend:
Unknown
Threat Category:
LC (Least Concern)
Threats:
Further alteration to grassland and/or permanent
agriculture. Car traffic may also pose a threat to this species.
(Widmann and Widmann, 2004)
Conservation Actions:
There are no local laws protecting this species.
Mammal Species
Visayan Spotted
Deer
Rusa alfredi
(Artiodactyla - Cervidae)
Range Description:
Endemic to the Western Visayan Islands (or Negros-Panay
Faunal Region) of the central Philippines.
Population Trend:
Decreasing
Threat Category:
EN (Endangered)
Threats:
This species has declined primarily as a result of habitat
conversion (agriculture and logging) and hunting (Cox 1987;
Oliver et al., 1991; Oliver 1992). Despite being fully protected
by law, this species is still intensively hunted throughout its
remaining range; both by local farmers in hinterland
communities and recreational hunters from larger cities.
Conservation Actions:
This species is fully protected under Philippine law, but
effective enforcement is wanting in most in most areas.
Mammal Species
Palawan Porcupine
Hystrix pumila
(Rodentia - Hystricidae)
Range Description:
The species is endemic to the Philippines being restricted to
the Palawan Faunal Region (Heaney et al. 1998). It has been
recorded from Palawan, and Busuanga islands.
Population Trend:
Decreasing
Threat Category:
VU (Vulnerable)
Threats:
Forest clearance and is hunted for food. It is an important
game species for some ethnic communities (Esselstyn et al.
2004).
It is also traded nationally as a pet, private collectors in the
Philippines (I. Widmann pers. comm.).
Conservation Actions:
Mammal Species
The species occurs in some protected areas. It is also one of the
focal species monitored by wildlife wardens to record the
extent of hunting in the Culasian Managed Resources
Protected Area in Rizal (southern Palawan) and in Omoi
Cockatoo Reserve in Dumaran (I. Widmann pers. comm.).
Range
Description:
Endemic to the Philippine island of
Mindoro (9,735 km² in area), where
it was formerly widespread across
the island. The current range is
estimated to cover less than 300
km², in only two or three areas:
Mount Iglit-Baco National Park
(within the Iglit mountain range),
Mount Aruyan/Sablayan, and
Mount Calavite Tamaraw Preserve.
Population
Trend:
Decreasing
Threat Category:
CR (Critically Endangered)
Threats:
The main current threat to the
Tamaraw is habitat loss due to
farming by resettled and local
people, with a high human
population growth rates in and
around its remaining habitat. In
some areas, fires set for agriculture
are a threat to the species' habitat.
Conservation
Actions:
Tamaraw receive total protection
under Philippine law. The largest
of the three known subpopulations
occurs in Mount Iglit-Baco
National Park.
Tamaraw
Bubalus mindorensis
(Artiodactyla - Bovidae)
Mammal Species
Mindanao
Bleeding-heart
Gallicolumba crinigera
(Columbidae)
Range Description:
Endemic to the Philippines, where it is known from Samar,
Leyte, Bohol, Dinagat, Mindanao and Basilan (Collar et
al. 1999).
Population Trend:
Decreasing
Threat Category:
VU (Vulnerable)
Threats:
The near-total loss of lowland forest throughout its range has
caused its decline. Trapping for food and trade is a problem
for all terrestrial birds in the Philippines.
Conservation Actions:
A 7,000-hectare nesting site of the Philippine Eagle which
includes Mindanao Bleeding Heart habitat was recently
declared by a local government as protected in Mount
Hamiguitan (J. Ibanez in litt. 2007)
Bird Species
Philippine
Hawk-Cuckoo
Hierococcyx pectoralis
(Cuculidae)
Range Description:
Endemic to the Philippines, occurring on the islands of
Banton, Basilan, Bohol, Cagayancillo, Catanduanes, Cebu,
Jolo, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Palawan,
Panay, Sibuyan, Siquijor, Tablas, and Ticao (Erritzoe et
al. 2012). It is considered uncommon to rare, but also that it
may be overlooked (Erritzoe et al. 2012).
Population Trend:
Decreasing
Threat Category:
LC (Least Concern)
Threats:
Unknown
Conservation Actions:
Unknown
Bird Species
Naked-faced
Spiderhunter
Arachnothera clarae
(Nectariniidae)
Range Description:
Endemic to the Philippines.
Population Trend:
Stable
Threat Category:
LC (Least Concern)
Threats:
There is absence of evidence for any declines or substantial
threats.
Conservation Actions:
Unknown
Bird Species
Camiguin
Hanging-parrot
Loriculus camiguinensis
(Psittacidae)
Range Description:
Endemic to Camiguin Island, Philippines.
Population Trend:
Unknown
Threat Category:
Unknown
Threats:
This species is threatened by a naturally limited range,
habitat destruction and trapping for the wild bird trade.
Conservation Actions:
Unknown
Bird Species
Range
Description:
Endemic to Calayan Island in the
Babuyan Islands, Northern
Philippines, where it was recorded
and a specimen collected from
Longog, Barangay Magsidel, in
May 2004.
Population
Trend:
Stable
Threat Category:
VU (Vulnerable)
Threats:
In those parts of the island with
forested coralline limestone
outcrops, the soil is often very thin
or absent, and hence unsuitable for
agriculture.
Subsistent logging. Construction of
roads.
Conservation
Actions:
The Calayan municipal council has
passed Municipal Ordinance No.
84, which prohibits the capture,
sale, possession and collection of
the Calayan Rail (Española and
Oliveros 2006).
Calayan Rail
Gallirallus calayanensis
(Rallidae)
Bird Species
Handsome
Sunbird
Aethopyga bella
(Nectariniidae)
Range Description:
This species is endemic to the Philippines.
Population Trend:
Stable
Threat Category:
LC (Least Concern)
Threats:
Unknown
Conservation Actions:
Unknown
Bird Species
Philippine
Cat Snake
Boiga philippina
(Squamata Serpentes - Colubridae)
Range Description:
Endemic to the Philippines. It has been recorded from Luzon
(the Sierra Madre), and more recently from Camiguin Norte,
Babuyan Claro and Dalupiri (R. Brown pers. comm. 2007;
Broad and Oliveros 2005).
Population Trend:
Unknown
Threat Category:
LC (Least Concern)
Threats:
This species is generally threatened by ongoing habitat loss
and fragmentation, mostly related to slash and burn
agricultural practices, and logging operations (including
illegal extraction).
Conservation Actions:
This species is present within protected areas in the northern
part of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Further studies are
needed into the distribution, abundance, ecology, and
threats.
Reptile Species
Philippine
Pond Turtle
Siebenrockiella leytensis
(Testudines - Geoemydidae)
Range Description:
Endemic to the Philippines.
Population Trend:
Unknown
Threat Category:
CR (Critically Endangered)
Threats:
Known from only 4 specimens this species has acquired a
mythical reputation that will make any further animals
extremely valuable in the pet trade. There are no data to
estimate its extent of occurrence, but it is presumed to be
either extremely rare or restricted to one or very few small
localities.
Conservation Actions:
It is listed on CITES Appendix II.
Reptile Species
Northern
Philippine Cobra
Naja philippinensis
(Squamata Serpentes - Elapidae)
Range Description:
Endemic to the Philippines. It has been recorded from the
islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Masbate, and Marinduque.
Population Trend:
Decreasing
Threat Category:
NT (Near Threatened)
Threats:
The species is widely persecuted, especially in and around
agricultural areas. Animals are collected for the exotic food
trade (within the Philippines), and to a much lesser degree,
for the pet trade. This snake is also collected and used for
anti-venom production by the Research Institute for Tropical
Medicine (RITM).
Conservation Actions:
It is presumably present in some protected areas. Awareness
programmes are needed to reduce levels of persecution.
Better control and enforcement of legislation to regulate the
exotic food trade is also needed. International trade in this
species is regulated by CITES.
Reptile Species
Whitefin
Topeshark
Hemitriakis leucoperiptera
(Triakidae)
Range Description:
This species occurs on the Northwest Pacific: Philippine
Islands (Dumaguete, Negros, also Bagac Bay, Bataan Prov.,
Luzon). It is found inshore down to 48 m.
Population Trend:
Unknown
Threat Category:
EN (Endangered)
Threats:
The species is probably taken as utilized bycatch by local
fisheries in the Philippines. However, past and continuing
population reduction is probable, due to the heavy inshore
fishing occurring throughout its limited area of distribution.
It may also be suffering from habitat loss and deterioration,
for dynamite and cyanide fishing have affected much of the
reef habitat in its area.
Conservation Actions:
None.
Marine Fish Species
Gloeocarpus
Gloeocarpus patentivalvis
1 spp.
(Sapindaceae)
Range Description:
A rare tree restricted to Mindanao, Samar, Leyte and Luzon.
Population Trend:
Unknown
Threat Category:
EN (Endangered)
Threats:
Unknown
Conservation Actions:
Unknown
Plant Species
Fowlie's
Paphiopedilum
Paphiopedilum fowliei
Range Description:
Endemic to the Philippines, localized on one island
(Palawan). Found in low elevations.
Population Trend:
Unknown
Threat Category:
CR (Critically Endangered)
Threats:
Loss and degradadtion of habitat and over-collection for
trade. Utilized as an ornamental plant.
Conservation Actions:
The entire island of Palawan is declared a protected area.
Plant Species
Spoon-leaf
Sundew
Drosera spatulata
Range Description:
Drosera spatulata can be found found in Australia,
Tasmania, and New Zealand, and also in various parts of the
Far East, including China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
Borneo, and the Philippines
Population Trend:
Unknown
Threat Category:
Unknown
Threats:
Unknown
Conservation Actions:
Unknown
Plant Species
Peltate Nephentes
Nepenthes peltata
Range
Description:
From Mt. Hamiguitan
Range, Mindanao,
Philippines
Population
Trend:
Unknown
Threat
Category:
Unknown
Threats:
Unknown
Conservation
Actions:
Unknown
Plant Species
Sea Poison Tree
Barringtonia asiatica
Plant Species
Range
Description:
Endemic to mangrove
habitats on the tropical
coasts and islands of the
Indian Ocean and western
Pacific Ocean from Zanzibar
east to Taiwan, the
Philippines, Fiji, New
Caledonia, Solomon Islands,
the Cook Islands, Wallis and
Futuna and French
Polynesia.
Population
Trend:
Unknown
Threat
Category:
LC (Least Concern)
Threats:
Unknown
Conservation
Actions:
Unknown
Reference
http://www.biodiversity-worldwide.info/endemism.htm
State of Philippine Biodiversity
http://www.newcapp.org/cgi-bin/news/content.php?id=78
Endemic Species are Your Home Team for the Ecosystem.
http://www.stateconservation.org/mississippi/?q=art&id=93
www.arkive.org
Citations
Tabaranza, B., Ruedas L., Widmann, P. & Esselstyn, J. 2008. Mydaus marchei. The IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. www.iucnredlist.org
Ong, P., Rosell-Ambal, G., Tabaranza, B., Walston, J., Balete, D., Alcala, E., Reizl, J.C.,
Ramayla, S., Sedlock, J., Gomez, R., Gonzalez, J.C., Ingle, N. & Heaney, L.
2008. Eonycteris robusta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3
Tabaranza, B., Gonzalez, J.C., Rosell-Ambal, G. & Heaney, L. 2008. Urogale everetti.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3.
Oliver, W., MacKinnon, J., Heaney, L. & Lastica, E. 2008. Rusa alfredi. The IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3.
Heaney, L., Balete, D., Rosell-Ambal, G., Tabaranza, B., Ong, P. & Widmann, P.
2008.Hystrix pumila. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3.
Hedges, S., Duckworth, J.W., Huffman, B., de Leon, J., Custodio, C. & Gonzales, J.
2013.Bubalus mindorensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3.
BirdLife International 2013. Gallicolumba crinigera. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species. Version 2014.3.
BirdLife International 2014. Hierococcyx pectoralis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species. Version 2014.3.
Citations
BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Arachnothera clarae.
http://www.parrots.org/index.php/encyclopedia/profile/camiguin_hanging_parrot/
BirdLife International 2012. Aethopyga bella. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Version 2014.3.
Brown, R. & Diesmos, A. 2009. Boiga philippina. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species. Version 2014.3.
Asian Turtle Trade Working Group 2000. Siebenrockiella leytensis. The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. Version 2014.3.
Sy, E., Brown, R., Afuang, L., Diesmos, A. & Gonzalez, J.C. 2009. Naja philippinensis. The
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3.
Compagno, L.J.V. 2006. Hemitriakis leucoperiptera. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species. Version 2014.3.
van Welzen, P.C. 1998. Gloeocarpus patentivalvis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species. Version 2014.3.
Agoo, E.M.G., Cootes, J., Golamco, A., Jr., de Vogel, E.F. & Tiu, D.
2004. Paphiopedilum fowliei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3.
Citations
http://www.sarracenia.com/faq/faq5412.html