Project In Science

Endangered Species

Submitted to: maam Thelma

Submitted by: Vince R. Villanueva

Reptiles

Green Turtle

NAME: English: Green Turtle Tagalog: Pawikan Scientific: Chelonia Mydas ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribtution Habitat The Green Turtle occurs throughout Philippines waters, with important nesting concentrations in the Turtle islands and Bancauan island, Tawi-Tawi. Approximately 80% of the Philippine green turtle nesting occur in this area 9 Limpus, 1985 unpublished). The turtle islands are known to be a traditional nesting area for the green turtle. Along with the Turtle Islands of Sabah and the Berau Islands in Indonesia, they support the only major (i.e. thousands of testing females anually) green turtle breeding aggregation in the ASEAN Region (Limpus,1985 unpublished). A significant decline in annual egg production is now evident due to large-scale harvesting of the turtle eggs for decades. The green turtle is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical waters near continental coasts and around islands. It is rarely found in temperate water. Description Turtle are four-legged, shelled reptiles that belong to Order testudinata. Turtles are characterized by a scalyskin and a protected shell that encloses the vital orgns of the body and more or less protects the heads and limbs. It breaths air using the lungs. Some aquatic species have an additional method of breathing, the vascularized mucous membrane of the cloacal region or the throat that can fuction like a gill of a fish. The Green Turtle is nearly oval somewhat tapering behing his carapace,small rounded head, variable color, dorsal scutes may be radially streaked, spotted or plain.Their carapace scutes do not overlap, the lateral scutes is 4 pairs, carapace length is up to 125 cm long and the carapace color is light tan, green to almost black and plastron is yellow and it weigh up to 230 kg. The prefrontal scale is 1 pairs., the infragmarginal pores is absent and the hatching color of carapace is grey and plastron is white. Form study made, has been established as a herbivore and they abound in places where seagrasses and seaweeds are pleintiful . This is particularly true of young turtle and those kept in captivity. It is commonly belived that young turtlues are carnivorous during their first few months of life, and they become herbivores when they pass one year of age or when reaching a weights of between 1 and 4 kiligrams (Hirths, 1971). THe reason behind the change in their food preference is not yet known. Studies on their stomack contents have shown that the more common food consumed by the wold adults and sub-adult are the different species of seagrasses and algae. cras, snails, sponges, mollusks and jelyfishes were also recovered from some of the turtle, but occurence was not that significant to establish these food as part of their regular diet (about2%).

Olive-Ridley Turtle

NAME: English: Olive-Ridley Turtle Tagalog: Pawikan Scientific: Lepidochelys Olivacea ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribtution Habitat The olive ridley is not a very commom species in the Philippines. The type specimen for the specise was collected from Manila Bay in 1829 and early this century. Taylor(1920 &1921) recorded that " the species is not rare and is taken frequently in Manila Bay". Recent record are scarce. Gomez (1y hatchlings were 980) reported a captive specimen but could not determine the capture site. In 1987, an olive ridley was captured in Palawan and was last released. In 1988, a specimen was caught by a freshmen in Navotas, Malabon and was later releasesd by the PCP in Batangas. On August 1990, a juvenile olive ridley was caprtured in Carigara Bay, Capoocan, leyte. This was released inthe same place on September 11,1990 after a PCP metal tag was applied (Region VIII, FAO report) . The most recent documented sighting of olive ridleys took place in Subic Bay,Zambales. A group of olive ridlerecovered at El Grande Island and a nest of eggs were laid in front of the officers Club, USN installation. The egg were laid on December 23,1992 and the hatchlings emerged on February 14,1993. Mayor Richard Gordon took pride in releasing the newly emerged olive ridley hatchlings. These past two years, resort owners in Subic have reported that olive ridleys nests during the months of November to December. The olive ridley ia a pantropical species living principally in the northern hemisphere. They are widely distributed in continental coastal waters.

Description The Olive ridley identification is the carapace discribe disc-shaped virtually as wide as long L. kempi & L. olivacea can only be differentiated by close examination, thier head is medium size and thier color is grey in juveniles olive green in adults. The carapace is overlap, in lateral scutes is 5-9 pairs ( usually 6-8) and their carapace length is up tp 70 cm long. And the carapace color is grey in immatures; olive green in adults and plastron is white in immatures; yellow in adults. the weight is up to 45 kg. The prefrontal scales is 2 pairs and inframarginal pores is present. The hatching color of the carapace and their plastron are grey or black. The olive ridleys, is a facultative, which for long periods is capable of eating a single kind of food . It may take a variety of food such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, sipunculid worms and fish eggs.

Hawksbill Turtle

NAME: English: Hawksbill Turtle Tagalog: Pawikan Scientific: Eretmochelys Imbricata ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat The Hawksbill occurs widely with low nesting densities throughout the Philippines. No major nesting aggregating have been identified but were found to nest in small numbers of numerous islands. A hawksbill turtle from a feeding ground at Culasi, Antique, Central Philippines was recorded nesting 713 kilometers distant to the Northern Sabah Turtle Islands (de Silva, 1982 ). Hawksbills appear to be now greatly reduced in number when compared with the past harvest statistics ( Seale,1911,1917; Polunin,1975, deCelis,1982). The relative rarity of the hawksbill is largely a result of prolonged over-exploitation of eggs and the international trade of tortoiseshell. The hawksbill is the most tropical of all sea turtles. it is distributed throughout the Central Atlantic and Indo pacific Region. Description The hawksbill description is heart-shaped or elongate; tapering behind with strong posterior serrations, narrow and pointed head, brown with variable radiating markings is it's color. Their carapace scutes thick; overlapping and lateral scutes is 4 pairs and has the length up to 90 cm long. The carapace color is very variable, predominantly brown with dark and light spots and plastron color is light yellow or white; sometimes black spots and it weigh up 80 kg and the prefrontal scales is 2 pairs and inframarginal pores. And the hatchling color of carapace is light to dark brown and the plastron is brown. The hawksbill is carnivorous in nature. i has a narrow , sharp beak, which is primarily adapted to prying and probing food in cracks and crevices among rocks. Evidence indicate that the hawksbill is characteristically an inhabitant of rocky places. In both mature and immature stages it forage on reefs and rocky bottoms. Food items identified from gut contents indicate that the hawksbill is an opportunities feeder with preference for benthic invertebrates. Food recovered from stomachs of juveniles were mostly different species of sponges, sea urchins, coelenterates, gastropods, cephalopods and large. From the results of the comprehensive study made by Carr and Stancyk (1975); They concluded that hawksbill diet mostly consist of sponges of the group Demospongia. and that competition with other species within this niches is rare, In fact, Eretmochelys imbricata is the only known spongivore marine reptile ( Meylan,1988)., and strictly spongivore vertebrates includes only a small number of teleostean fishes.

Leatherback Turtle

NAME: English: Leather Back Turtle Tagalog: Pawikan Scientific: Dermochelys Coriacea ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat Only a single nesting within the Philippines is known for the leatherback turtle from the Quiniluban island Group (F. Matillano and D. Labra, BFAR Staff, 1985). Isolated records of leatherback trutles caught in nets or washed ashore have been reported to PCP. In Hinunangan, Southern Leyte, it was capture on September 19,1990. The activity of leatherback was not recorded. It was released the following day (region VIII, FAO Report ). Still another leatherback was captured and released in Binuangan, Tubay, Agusan del Norte on February 16,1992. The CCL and CCW were 147.3 cm and 68 cm, respectively. Based on the 1994 habitat survey on marine turtle conducted by the PCP in the Province of Romblon, occasional sighting of leatherback turtle have been reported. Ibrahim (1994) reported that most sighting of Malaysia leatherbacks have been received from Hawaii, Japan, Indonesia and mostly from the Philippines. The species is probably common in the open waters of the Philippines where they feed before migrating to breed in neighboring countries. The leatherback can adapt to colder water making it the most widely distributed of all the sea turtle. It is a highly pelagic species. Description The leatherback Turtle describe the carapace with elongate with longitudinal ridges, medium and rounded head and the color is black with variable white spots and the carapace scutes is absent. There is no lateral scutes instead longitudinal ridges and has the length up to 190 cm long. And the color is black with white spots carapace and the plastron is black and it weighs up to 600 kg. and the hatching color of carapace and plastron are dark, grey and black. The leatherback turtle, is a deep water turtle, therefore, little is known about their feeding habits at sea. The few records which exist stomach content analyses indicate that they are carnivorous and probably feed at considerable depth (Hendrickson,1980). they eat nearly an exclusive diet of scyphozoans. In captivity, they often suffer from gut impaction and stagnation if raised on diet of fish and meat, because, even if they are carnivorous their alimentary tract cannot process such food. Newspaper reports of food poisoning from eating the leather turtle, would hint that this species may eat mollusks, hence are able to accumulate toxins responsible for mussel poisoning.

Loggerhead Turtle

NAME: English: Loggerhead Turtle Tagalog: Pawikan Scientific: Caretta caretta ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat Loggerhead turtle is documented in the Philippines only from old published photos (Seale, 1911; Taylor,1920 &1921). Two recent sightings of loggerheads, tagged in Japan took place in Philippine water. Other than these, there appears to be no other positive records of this species from Philippine waters. If breeding indeed occurs, it would probably be in the extreme northern islands adjacent to the important loggerhead nesting aggregation in Southern Japan. The Loggerhead turtle is widely distributed in coastal tropical and subtropical waters around the world. This species commonly wander into temperate water and to the boundaries of warm currents. Description The loggerhead is somewhat elongate tapering behind carapace, triangular head and reddish brown. The Carapace does not over lap, the lateral scutes is 5 pairs and carapace length up to 120 cm long and the coor is reddish brown and their plastron is yellow. It weighs up to 200 kg. the prefrontal scales is 2 pairs and absent inframarginal pores and the hatchling color of carapace is light to dark brown and plastron is brown. Possesses a heavy head and jaw structure which are presumably direct adaptation to their crustacean mollusk diet. Sud-adult and adult loggerheads are primarily predators of benthic mollusks and crustaceans. Coelenterates and cephalopod mollusks are especially favored by loggerheads in the pelagic stage. post hatchling loggerheads evidently in ingest micro plankton associated with "weelines", especially gastropods in the sargassum raft community as well as fragments of crustaceans and sargassum. Loggerheads sometimes scavenge fish or fish parts or incidentally ingest fish ( Carr and Meylan, 1980 and Brongersma, 1972).

Crocodile

NAME: English: Crocodile Tagalog: Buaya Scientific: Crocodylus Midorensis ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribtution Habitat The term 'crocodile' was derived from the Greek word 'krokodeilos' meaning Lizard. There are two crocodalian found in the Philippines. They are Philippine or fresh water crocodile (Cocodylus midorenses) and Estuarine or saltwater crcodile (Crocodylus porosus). The Estuarine crocodile is widely been distributed than the Philippine or freshwater crocordiles. Salty crocodile are found in all the larger Islands of the Philippines including Luzon , Mindanao, Palawan, Samr, Leyte and Panay. in global distribution extends from eastern Indiato northern Austratia. Its habitat are the mouths of rivers and muddy canals located near the sea and can also be found in mangroves and shamps. Both species of crocodiles are endangered in the Philippines. they are been hunted for their valuable skin which is considered as one of the most price leather in the international market. A belt made from the crocodile skin has an average worth 250 US dollar and a handbag cost 4000 US dollar while shoes cost 600 to 800 US dollars. A live crocodile can fetch as much as 10,000 pesos. Most of the original habitats of the crocodile are now lostand it has been coverted to fishponds or has been cleared for agriculture making them very rare in the philippines and can be found only in uninhabited areas. Description Both Freshwater and Estuarine corcodiles are criptically colored. The back of the crocodile is generally light brown in color and is covered with thick and hard scales. Irregularly shaped black spots are spread throughout the sides of the body and upper part of the limbs. The total leght of the adult estuarine crocodile averages about 4 to 5 meters about 15 feet long while the freshwater crocodile has an average of at least 3 meter ( about 9 feet long). The biggest crocodile to be caught in recent times measured 5.34 meters long (about 171/2 feet long) and it was caught in Palawan butt the biggest reported was 9 meter (about 29 feet long) was caught in 1981 in Jala jala laguna de bay. The crocodile also known as a man eater and livestocks raider which has given humans the perfect excuse to hunt them down.

Birds

Philippine Cockatoo

NAME: English: Philippine Cockatoo Tagalog: Kalangay Scientific: Kakatoe Haematuropygia ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat The species is widely distributed throughout the Philippines where it is endemic. Several birds were seen in nest-holes in tall dead trees in April and May in the interior of Negros, around Pagyabonan, Bais. The trees were tall ones that were left standing in burned clearings that had been plated with rice for several seasons and then allowed to grow up with cogon grass. these clearings were interspersed with large patches of original dipterocarp forest in rolling country. Grain and seeds are preferred as food. Nine birds taken from Negros had eaten corn and the seeds of wild bananas. There are probably only 800 to 300 birds left in Palawan and the species has had 60 to 90 percent decline in population in the late 10 to 15 years. The major cause of the rapid decline of its population of the unregulated collection illegal trade of this species which very much in demandas house pet and zoo's animal. Habitat loss is also a major factor for this decline. Description Adult White; crest, short, the feathers suffused with sulfur-yellow at bases, and more or less washed with vermillion broadly edged with white; remises, on inner webs, sulfur-yellow, on outer webs, white; retraces, on inner webs, except central pair, intense sulfur-yellow, often tinged with reddish or pinkish. Whole white plumage may be faintly with vermillion all over. Soft parts-iris, blood-red to brown in females, dark brown to black in males; bare orbital area, creamy white; bill, leaden at base, white at tip; legs and feet, black; claws, black. and it measures a total length of 330mm; wing, 214; tail,105; bill 32; tarsus,21. The Philippine Cockatoo is not rare but in distribution, often frequenting the well-forest areas in the interior so that it is not often encountered. The birds go about in flocks of from four to twelve members. One flock of nine birds was seen in Negros. Another flock of about sixteen birds was seen in Lunao, Gingoog, Mindoro. The members of a flock utter harsh grating sound as they fly about in their search for food. they are attracted to cornfields when the ears are ripening. Here, they usually cause a lot of damage. They also feed on wild bananas but never on cultivated ones.

The birds often perch motionless on a bare branch of tree in the open and stay there for long periods, once in a while giving out their harsh grating notes. Later on, some birds will start to move slowly about the branches, up and down, with aid of both bill and feet. This bird is common cage Bird anywhere in the Philippines.

Tarictic Hornbill

NAME: English: Tarictic Hornbill Tagalog: Tariktik Scientific: Penelopides Panini Panini

ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat

The species is peculiar to the Philippines and is represented by 8 races in the different islands. These are: P.p. P.p. P.p. P.p. P.p. P.p. P.p. P.p. panini manillae subnigra mindorensis occuring ticaensis samarensis affinis occuring occuring basilanica in occuring in occuring occuring Guimaras, occuring in in occuring Bohol, Dinagat in Masbate, Luzon and in in Negros in Leyte,and and and Marinduque Polillo Mindoro Panay Ticao Samar Mindanao Basilan

The Tarictic hornbill's range follows the limits of the dipterocarp forests found from the lowlands to about 800 m elevation. Some birds may be found in mid- mountain forests of slightly higher elevation but not as frequently as the next species. Its main habitat is the dipterocarp forests. Occasionally it goes to feed on fruiting trees in clearings close to the original forests or on fruiting trees second-growth patches in wellforest areas. It is a noisy birds and keeps up its incessant notes that sound like the syllables "Ta-ric-tic, ta-ric-tic,ta-rictic" as it feeds on fruits. Some times, more than a dozen birds feed at the same time on one fruiting tree. As

some leave others come in. This continues throughout the day. Among the dense foliage, it difficult to locate the birds immediately in spite of the noise. Description Adult -Male --Head ,neck, and breast ,buffish white; cheeks ears cover ts and throat ,black; back and wings ,black, glossed with green ; rump. upper tail coverts,abdonomen ,crisum ;flanks,thighs and under tail coverts,rufous,lightest on abdomen ;rectrices, light rufous on basal 2/3 ,and black slight green gloss on terminal 1/3 Female -- Black with green gloss on neck , back on wings ; retraces as in male but outer web of outermost pair entirely black at base. Immature--Plumage as in adult , but bill not grooved.

Soft parts-Male-- Iris, red; bare skin of face white, bill and casque, dark red; base of upper mandible, with 4 or 5 oblique ridges; legs and feet blackish brown ; claws, black. Female-- Iris red; bare skin of face , bluish ;bill, black, dark red a tip ;casque ,dark red ;base upper mandible with 3 or 4 ill-defined radges;and shallow grooves between ;base of lower mandible with 2 ill-defined oblique ridges, legs and feet, blackish; claws, black. Measurement Total length, 650 mm; wing, (260, 245); tail (245,234) base of casqued to tip of bill, (108,95);tarsus (47,46). The species feeds mainly on fruits, occasionally insects and other animals. The stomachs of twenty-two birds taken from Negros contained wild fruits mostly, but in a few there were some insect remnants, mostly beetles and in one there were several pieces of earthworm. The eggs and nest of the doubtfully distinct race P.p. ticaensis have been describe on the basis of a set collected in Ticao. Isalnd. The eggs which have a chalky surface with occasional bumps, are dull white and unmarked except for a few stains. The nest is a cavity in the trunk of a large tree. the entrance is narrow slit through which the female was fed by her mate.

Philippine Eagle

NAME: English: Philippine Eagle Tagalog: Aguila Scientific: Pithecophaga Jefferyi ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribtution Habitat

The Philippine Eagle is a giant forest raptor endemic to the Philippines. It is considered one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world. Unfortunately, it is also one of the world's rarest and certainly among its most critically endangered vertebrate species. The Eagle is known to be geographically restricted to the islands of Luzon, Samr, Leyte, and Mindanao. These islands were once connected to each other during the mid-Pleistocene when the sea level was lower by 120-160 meters than at present. Recent biogeographical analysis suggest that the origin of Pithecophaga is clearly Papuasian. Its closest relative is believed to be the Ne Guinea harpy eagle,Haryopsis novaeguinea The ancestors of the Philippine Eagle probably arrived through te southeast part of Mindanao prior to the mid-Pleistocene. Population Status The current population status of the Philippine Eagle is not known. the species has been considered rare since it was first dicovered in 1896. morever, the eagle has always been difficult to census because of the significant logistic difficulties of working in dense, steep rain forest. Attemps to survey or estimate the population status of the species have always been crude at best. Only scattered, individual reports occured up through the 1960's. Additionally, data from researchrs in the 70's to the early 80's were difficult to interpret. And because of the small sample sizes and nature of approaches used, no confidence limits could be established for these estimates. The general indicators of population status continue to be alarming. Habitat and probably prey population are continuing to disappear at a rapid rate. Thus, wild population are losing places to live and likely are becoming food stressed . Of the two primary characteristics of population, i.e. reproductive rate and survival rate the latter is the most important for populations long-lived, lowly reproducing species. Chance effects ( such as weather fluctuation, epidemics, inbreeding, etc.) only make matters worse for small population. Description The species is charcterized by massive arched beak and long lanceolated crown feathers which can be raised to form a crest. individuals vary in size but average about a meter in length and have a wing spanof the around two meters. Wtih long tail feathers and broad wings, it is supremely adapted to foraging with high manueverability in the forest. it is often found soaring above the forest canopy. Adults are generally dark brown withdorsally, withpaler margines of the feathers, Teh rectrices are dark brown with wide dark bands at the tips. The underparts of the body are buffy white. While the thigh and leg feathers have indistinct reddish brown shaft stripes. The beak is dark blue; the legs and feet are yellow; talons black; and the iris blue-gray. Behavior The Philippine Eagle is primary a rain forest raptor. Its natural habitat is mainly dipterocarp lowland forest where it is known to nest almost exclusively on large , old-growth dipterocarps from 100-1000 meters in elevation . Most of the nesting sites discovered during the recent decade have been associated with steep,forested valleys or ravines. The food habit of the Philppines Eagle are known form prey items brought into nests. Studies from 19781983 revealed that 15 species of ver- tebrate prey were used for feeding the young including flying lemurs,squirrels,snakes,civets,horn bills bats and monkeys. The variety and size differences of prey suggest that the Philippine Eagle is an appportunistic hunter with preference for tree dwelling species. Its choice prey maybe re lated to the relative abundance of species or coin cides with the breeding season for the particular prey.

The breeding season extends from julu to February. The factors responsible for seasonal timing of breeding are not known. Rainfall patterns and seseanal abundance of prey have been suggested as possible environmental factors that trigger breeding. Courtship behavior is well known ansd shows variation among individuals. The eagles may engage in aerail displays which in the past was mistaken for mating in mid-air. Copulation, however, occurs on perches or the nest. The eagle's nest is built high on emergent trees usually on epihytes at the point where major branches spread apart. Each pair nests only once every two years and the females lay only one egg at a time. The egg is incubated alternatelt by the parents for about 60 days. Once hatched, the eaglet will stay in the nest for about 5.5 months. The parents will take care of it as long as 17 months

Philippine BooBook Owl

NAME: English: Philippine BooBook Owl Tagalog: Kuago Scientific: Ninox Philippenses Centralist ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat The numerous of the owl family are distributed all over the tropical and temperate region of the world. Nine species by about 29 forms, occurs in the Philippines, one of which is migratory, and one a mere straggler. Members of this family usually have lengthened feathers above and behind the eye known as "horns" or "ear tufts" The habits are those describe for the grass owl family. The Philippine Boobook owl is common on the various islands. Its notes are always heard at night in the foothills, in the neighborhood of dense second-growth or original forests. Some birds are even flushed from the small dense patches of the trees that are allowed to row at the sides cultivated fields or long the small creek that run across farms. The owl, like any other owl, is seldom encountered during daytime. however, with the aid of an electric trough with concentrated beam, it is easy to see four or five birds at night, their yellowish gleaming eyes easily showing where they are. Description Adult. Upperparts, including head and hind neck, dark earth- brown; oval white spots on scapulars and upper wing coverts ; stiff feather on fore head and base of bill, whitish and stuff, with black shaft- streaks; throat, buffy white on upper part streaked with earth-brown; rest of under parts, white striped with rufous-

brown the stripes more or less fused on lower throat and breast' crissum's, white; primaries, dark brown, with narrow edge ochraceous, the outer webs of first 4 or 5 with distinct spots, becoming very faints on the rest, and the inner webs af all, with very faintly indicated lighter bars; secondary, dark brown, notched and spotted with white; retraces, dark brown, with paler brown tip and crossed with 6 narrow ochraceous bars. Insects are preferred as food. Nine birds taken from Negros had insect remains in their stomachs. A nestling was taken from a cavity of a tall tree in a dipterocarp forest, in Helosig, in the interior of Leyte in the first week of May.

Palawan Peacock Pheasant

NAME: English: Palawan Peacock Pheasant Scientific: Polyplectron emphanum

ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat

Endemic to Palawan where it is quite uncommon. Lives on the floor of the deep forest though seldom observed because of its shy and wary nature. The male struts and displays to the female in a dancing arena within a clearing on the forest floor. Feeds on a variety of fruit and seeds, as well as insects and other small animals. Much sought after by collectors and may be threatened with extinction unless adequately protected. Description 52 cm. Male: a long metallic blue crest; ear coverts and sometimes long eyebrows white; rest of head, under parts and flight feathers black; mantle and wing coverts metallic blue with purple reflections; back, rump and tail black, spotted and marked with rusty brown, upper tail coverts and broad tail feathers with large metallic blue ocelli bordered by black and gray. Two to three spurs on each leg. Female; smaller, with no spurs, crest seldom visible; brown, whitish on face and throat; tail feathers with large purple blue ocelli. Bill black and feet brown in both sexes.

Crimson Backed Woodpecker

NAME: English: Crimson Backed Woodpecker Tagalog: Karpintero Scientific: Chrysocolapteus Lucidus ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat The Crimson-backed woodpecker is frequently found in both original and second-growth forest in the hills up to about 600 m. elevation, near the upper limit of the dipterocarp forest zone. occasionally it visits the partly burned dead trees left standing in abandoned clearing close to forests. It is a noisy bird making loud fast-repeated noter as it goes about in its search for food, drumming against wood. The birds usually goes about in pairs which keep track of each on the in the dense growth by means of the oft-repeated notes. the tapping on a large partly burned hollow tree, produces a very loud sound that closely resembles that produced by a modern riveting machine. The birds is not at all shy and allow close approach, while carryings on nonchalantly its search for food. The species is distributed from India and Ceylon, east to Burma, Thailand and Indochina, and the Philippines and south to Malaysia. At least seven endemic races are known in the Philippines. The C.l haemtribon, occurs in Luzon and Marinduque; C.l. grandis, occurs in Polillo C.l. rufopunctatus, occurs in Bohol, Leyte, panaon ans samar; C.l. xanthocephalus, occurs in Guimaras, Masbate, Negros, Panay and Ticao; C.l. licidus, occurs in Zamboanga and Basilan; C.l. montanus, occurs throughout Mindoro except in Zamboanga and the C.l erythrocephalus, occurs in Balabac, Calamianes and Palawan. Description Forehead, Crown, crest, mantle, back, rump, secondary and secondary coverts, crimson; side of face, golden yellow; chin and throat, yellow with a black line along middle and another one along each side of throat; neck and upper breast, blackish, each feather with a long or circular spots, remaining under parts, yellow; primaries, brown, basal parts of outer webs with golden yellow edge, and spotted with white in inner webs; restrices, dark brown, the 4 central feathers very stiff, curved and almost of the same length. Female similar to male except for golden yellow forehead, crown and crest. The Immature is similar female, but sides of face much paler yellow than in adult; male has much paler crown than in adult. Nothing definite is known about the nesting and breeding of this birds in the Philippines except that in May, several pairs were observed chasing each other from tree to tree ultimately copulating in deep forest, with a great deal of accompanying noise. Copulation usually took place on the lower portion of the trunks

of the forest trees, about one haft to two meters from the ground. The birds after separation flew to different trees and carried on the normal activities of food searching. in one instance, three birds two males and female, were actively chasing each other among the trees for quite a long time. The males chased was chasing the female. Later, it overtook the female was overtaken by the other male which gave chase for about 25 m and then came back and joined the female on the same tree and at about the same level of the trunk, but in the other side. From here the two proceeded to feed undisturbed until they both left.

Mindoro Imperial Pigeon

NAME: English: Mindoro Imperial Pigeon Scientific: Dacula Mindorenses ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat Confined with Mindoro, where it uncommon. occurs in forested highlands above 1,400 meters although may come down to lower altitudes during the dry season after water. Feeds on large fruit. Usually seen in pairs; sometimes in threes or fours. Voice penetrating booming note little information is available in this species. Description The Mindoro Imperial Pigeon is 35 cm., male with face, throat and forehead pinkish gray, gray black ring around the eye and line extended behind; rest of head and under parts pale gray. Mantle black merging with metallic copper and bright green on back and wings. Tail glossed with blue, with a dark gray band across the middle. Female with chestnut margins to under tail coverts. Bill black and feet red.

Black Shahma

NAME: English: Black Shahma Scientific: Copsychus cebuensis ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribtution Habitat Found only on Cebu where it is very scarce; endemic. Occurs in the undergrowth of the patches of secondary growth tracts along steep ravines and in bamboo groves and thickets. Secretive and little known about its behavior. Description 20 cm. Entirely glossy black; a wattle around the eye. Immature: brown and spotted. Bill and feet black.

Sulu Hornbill

NAME: English: Sulu Hornbill Scientific: Anthracoceros montani ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat Scarce. Occurs in the mountains of Jolo, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Usually travels in pairs or in small noisy groups. Feeds on forest fruit, small lizards and some insects. Like other hornbills, nests in tree holes. Description 70 cm. Black, glossed with green above; tail white; bill and feet black

Mammals

Philippine Tarsier

NAME: English: Philippine Tarsier Tagalog: Mamag Scientific: Tarsius Philippensis ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat The Philippine Tarsier stays in the lowlands and medium elevations, in the plains and in rolling or hilly country. It stays in mixed open country with dense patches of bush, tall grass, light bamboo, and low trees, preferably along the dense edges of clearing made in these areas. The animal may be accidentally disturbed during daytime from its living quarters among the dense low vegetation at the edge of clearing frequently in newly-opened country, and at the outskirts of forests. It jumps agilely and at first glance appears more like a surprised rat than anything else. At night the tarsier is often found in the edges of clearings looking for food. It is often encountered in newly-burned kaingin patches, where it is after the ash and the pieces of charcoal as sources of salt. It is a timid animal and dislikes to stay in strong light, even if it is only the light of the day. It is satisfied to stay in the darkest corner of a cage and cling there, hiding its face away from the spectator. when two or more animals are placed together inside a cage, all of them stay together in the darkest corner, one on top of the back of another. The animal acts and moves sluggishly during the day but at night it becomes very active. The tarsier feeds mainly on insects and small reptiles. Captive tarsiers relish cockroaches and house lizard. Tarsier occur in Samar, Leyte, Bohol and Mindanao. Several species have been described but it is more likely that there is only one species that is distributed among these islands, which may include two or three subspecies. Description Small monkeylike animal with the body typically smaller than that of the common Philippine field rat, the color ranging from almost uniform dark gray to an almost uniform reddish brown. Skull with large orbits, their diameters only slightly less than half the total length of skull, separated from each other by a very narrow intertribal space, less than 2 mm; a distinctly depressed area between posterior parts of orbits; postorbital process supported by thin bone, separating orbit from temporal fosse; palate short, not even extending up to behind last moral; palatine processes .extended back and attach to large auditory bullas, which almost touch each other medially, but separated by deep groove between; condoles immediately below median part of brain case; no sagittal crest; two ill-defined crests rise posterior to orbits, curve backward over brain case , and are widely separated. First upper incisors larger than upper canines but slightly smaller than lower canines, very close together;

second upper incisors greatly reduced; separated from the canines; upper molars distinctly 3-cusped; lower molar 4 or 5-cusped; first upper and lower premolars smaller than succeeding teeth. BEHAVIOR The Philippine tarsier stays in the lowlands and medium elevations, in the plains and in rolling or hilly country. It stays in mixed open country with dense patches of bush; tall grass, light bamboo, and low trees, preferably along the dense edges of clearings made in these areas. The animal may be accidentally disturbed during daytime from its living quarters among the dense low vegetation at the edges of clearing frequently in newly-opened country, and at the outskirts of forests. It jumps agilely and at first glance appears more like a surprised rat than anything else. At night the tarsier is often found in the edges of clearings looking for food. It is often encountered in newly-burned kaingin patches, where it is after the ash and the pieces of charcoal as sources of salt. It is timid animal and dislikes to stay in strong light, even if it is only the light of the day. Form study made, has been established as a herbivore and they abound in places where sea grasses and seaweeds are plentiful . This is particularly true of young turtle and those kept in captivity. It is commonly believed that young turtles are carnivorous during their first few months of life, and they become herbivores when they pass one year of age or when reaching a weights of between 1 and 4 kilograms (Hirths, 1971). The reason behind the change in their food preference is not yet known. Studies on their stomach contents have shown that the more common food consumed by the would adults and sub-adult are the different species of sea grasses and algae. grass, snails, sponges, mollusks and jellyfishes were also recovered from some of the turtle, but occurrence was not that significant to establish these food as part of their regular diet (about2%).

Philippine Deer

NAME: English: Philippine Deer Tagalog: Usa Scientific: Cervus Mariannus ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribtution Habitat Cervus mariannus is known to have at least four subspecies which are endemic to Luzon, Mindoro, Mindanao, and associated smaller islands in the eastern part of the Philippines (Oliver et al.1991) This animal is one of the regional variants of Cervus unicolor, is listed under Appendix II of the Comvention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora nad Fauna (CITES). It has been considered as an endangered species by the ASEAN Experts Group onEnvironment (1986). However, compared with the

Spotted Deer and the Calamian Deer, Cervus mariannus is not as seriously threatened throughout its range and is not included in the IUCN Red List (IUCN 19900. Recent survey, however, has indicated that hte subspecies of cervus mariannus in Mindoro (C.m. nigricans) are highly threatened within their respective range because if deforestation and over-hunting (OLiver et al.1990). Description The Philippine deer, also known as Luzon Sambar Deer is a medium-sized ungulate. Itas pelage is ruddy brown in color, with the upperparts, darker than the underparts. An average adult weighs from 40 to 60 kilos while a newly bord fawn weighs about 2.65 kilos ( Catibog- Sinha 1992). Like al cervids of the world except the musk deer), the philippine deer possesses a liver without a gall bladder (whitehead 1972) The reprodutive behavior of the deer was observed and monitored in order to obtain pertinent information. in praticular, the data on mating, courtship,gestation period, parturition, doefawn bonding relationship, lastation, weaning yearling stage, and antler development were gathered during the entire duration of this study. In general, maintenace behavior refers to non reproductive related activities performed by animals everyday. Such activities include, among others, stretching movements, grooming, wallowing/bathing, shaking, rubbing, sleeping, roaming/running, and drinking. Sleeping/resting was found to be the most frequently performed activity, with each successive sleeping period constituting longer duration. the animals did not exhibit any preference for or fidelity to a resting site whitih the enclosure. however, they preferred the shade portions of the enclosure during regurgitation of ingested food. Resting, usually in groups or pairs, normally occurred immediatly after feeding. Body-rubbing was also performed by the deer rubbing the sides of its body against rough objects, such as tree trunks, introduced rub-posts, wooden pegs and the pens cemented walls. Wallowing was observed during warm days and particularly in the afternoon. Both sexes used the pools, but males seemed to wallow more often and longer than the females probably because wallowing decreases the bidy temperature which is essential in spermatogenesis. It was also observed that drinking was commonly associated with wallowing and feeding.

Mouse Deer

NAME: English: Mouse Deer Tagalog: Pilandok Scientific: Tragulus Nigricans ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribtution Habitat Small deerlike ruminants wothout horns in both sexes; canines present in both jaws, but well-developed in upper jaw in the male; middle metacarpals fused; molars selenodont; premolars adapted for cutting.

From India, throughout southeastern Asia to the western malaysia islands. In the Philippines found only in Balabac island, south of Palawan, but not on Palawan island itself. The Balabac Chevrotain or mouse deer is active at night. During the day, it stays in deeply-shaded spots, among the dense vegetations, inside original forests, but may also be found inside the second growth forests close to virgin forests. The animal is difficult to find in the forest during the day, but at night it roams around the cleared areas, even close to seashore. Mouse Deer are commonly encountered along the roadsides at night with the use of flashlights. The eyes flash very brightly once caught in the beam and the animal normally stares for sometime before fleeing. Description Small; general coloration brown with the back and sides washed with jet black hairs with white bases, then dull orange and with broad black tips; nape with blackish lines but not distinct; face and sides on neck, mixed black and dull fulvous; a naked glandular patch on chin, between rami of lower jaw; white throat bands of very narrow, but sharplydefined stripes; anteriorly, on each side of the naked space, a short, clear white stripe, ending abruptly at abourt level of hind boder of eye; stripes separated from each and from the posterior stripes by a dark brown space; posteriorly median narrow white stripe bounded in each side, between lateral white stripes, by deep jet-black; behind, the stripes separated from the white patch between the forelimbs, by a broad blackish band; hairs on lower parts, especially on belly with broad black tips; inner sides thighs,white. The skull and teethe describes for genus and the external measurement of the head and body (410, 400 mm), tail (80,75) hind foot (110, 115), ear (27,26 ) height at shoulder (180,117)

Sea Cow

NAME: English: Sea Cow Tagalog: Dugong Scientific: Dugung Dugon ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribtution Habitat Dugong live long and have very low productive rates They can live up to about 70 years and only reach sexual maturity at the age of 9 to 17 years. The male and female dugong can be differentiated from each other by lookinf at the distances between their anus, genital slit and umbilical scar. After mating, the female will give birth to only a single calf bonding as the calf stays near the cow for at least 18 months. during this time the calf will suckle from the cow's teats underneath the flipper.

The only time that the cow will concieve again is after 3 to 7 years. Helen Marsh assumess that if every female dugong in a given population gives birth every three years startung at the age of 10, an increase in the population of only 5% is expected per year. Dugongs can be seen in tropical shallow coastal waters from 3 to 20 meters in depth where we can also find an abundance of seagrass. The Philippines is one of the 43 countries in the Indopacific where dugongs can be found which includes countries sech as Africa, India, indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Australia and the middle East. Today, only relict populatios remain in the Indo-Pacific, separated by large areas where populations are either close to extinction or are already extinct (Marsh1993) There are several distinct populations in the world which were determined through mitochondrial DNA studies (Tikel 1995). One is the Asian dugong, another is the African dugong and several other populations in Autralia. It is estimited that there are only more than 100,000 dugongs in the whole world (Marsh pers. comm.) Dugong were previously found in every island of the Philiippines. They were numerous along the country's lengthy coast. There is even one reord of a dugong caught from Manila Bay in the 18th century (Aragon1951). Documentation by early writers deliver a myriad of information, belifs and superstition about this animal. They were considered mysterious and human-like, although some described them as monstrous. Many historical accounts say that their body parts have medicinal powers. It is evident that the dugongs have been exploited in the Philippines for a very long time. There are no population counts in the country. In palawan, where most studies have been done. the population is described as sparse and low in density (Kataoka et al. 1995 and Nishiwaki et al 1979). Dugongs form large herbs of up to hundreds of animals. Usually, they are only seenalone or in pairs. Dugongs have become extinct in many aresa in the Philippines. Most of the remaining of the dugongs in the country can be found in Palawan. Twoother areas with possible viable populatios are the eastern Luzon coast (Isabela-Quezon) ans southern Mondanao. There are alsoindications that dugongs may still exist in Bicol, Catanduanes, Romblon, Mindoro, Caluya Islands and Cuyo. they are probably rare or extinct in the western Lizon coast, norther Mindanao, Samar and the visayas(Kataoka et al.1995) Description Like People and other mammals, thedugong is warm-blodded, has hairs breaths air, and the mother suckles their young. In fact, nothing comes closest to the description of mermainds than this animal. This has led to the common belief that the dugong is the true mermaid of the seas. An adult dugong can grow to about 3 meters in lenght and weigh more than 400 kilograms. Nweborns rea a little over a meter, while mature animals measure at least 2.5 meters in lenght (Marsh et al. 1984). The dugong's body is torpedo-shaped with small filppers and a whale-like tail. Its color is grayish-brown. Dugongs swim slowly, are shy and evasive. They move along coasts and between islands. Their movement is affected by the tide, weather, season, availability of food, and himan disturbance. They need to breathe air on the surface of the water every one to four minutes. The dugong is a very gentle animal that lives peacefully in our seas wihtout causing harm to people or other marine life. Behavior The dugong's primary food is the grass. These are nine species found in Palawan (PCP surveys) all of which are eaten by the dugong. However, softer, younger and smaller species, e.g. Halophila and Halidule, are preferred instead of older leaves or more fibrous species, eg, Enhalus(Lanyon 1993). The dugong has also been observed to feed on seaweeds and some invertebrates (Marsh 1991) The dugong uses its specialized snout to eat. Its snout is conveniently positioned at the ventral side of the body and can change in size and shape. it has lots of short and thick hairs. This allows the dugong to feed off the sea bottom, eating not only the leaves of the seagrasses but their roots and rhizomes as well. this

leaves a distinguishable path in the seagrass bed called dugong feeding trails or trenches. These footprints are used in identfying areas where dugong feed. Because os the dugong's large size and the seagrasses low nutrient content, an adult can consume more than 25 kgs af segrass in a day (Lanyon et al. 1989 and Heinsohn et al. 1997).

Tamaraw

NAME: English: Tamaraw Tagalog: Tamaraw Scientific: Anoa Mindorensis ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat The wild Asiatic water buffalo is at present restricted to northeastern India, Ceylon, southern Vietnam, and the Malay Peninsula. This species is widely distributed as a domesticated animal and has been introduced into southern Europe, northern Africa, China, Philippines (called carabao), Indonesia, and Australia. The Tamaraw is Found only on mindoro Island in the Philippines and nowhere else in the world. The Tamaraw is the largest land animal native to the Philippines. This small buffalo frequents dense vegetation along the rivers in the lowlands of Mindoro island and spends much of its time in the marshy areas. It is found in open grasslands and forests and range from sea level up to the high ridges of mountains on Mindoro Island, with elevation of more than 2000 m. This dwarf buffalo is over hunted both by sport hunters and by people who are after its meat. The species is one of the top game animals and its head is considered valuable trophy by the average big-game hunter anywhere in the world. Inspite of government regulations prohibiting its capture and killing, the species continues to be collecte and killed by illegal hunters. This dwarf buffalo is noted for its fierceness when cornered. The native hunters in Mindoro say that it is always best to have a nearly tree to climb up when hunting the Tamaraw, because it really attacks even when slightly wounded. The Tamaraw found only on Mindoro Island and nowhere else. Destruction of its habitat due to the deforestation or habitat alterations have been contributed to its decline. Over hunting of collecting trophies are also taken a heavy tool of Tamaraw population. From 10,00 heads in 1900's, the tamaraw population is now down 369 heads in the late 80's given them a precarious grip of survival. Description Small dark brown or brownish black, with more hair covering on their bodies than the carabao; as large as as half-grown carabao, with short limbs; horns short, triangular at base with very pronounced series of

rough grooves on anterior, posterior and lateral sides; inner sides of horn very rough; distal parts of horns rounded, sharply pointed ans coming close together; frontal parts of skull slightly bulging; ears moderate in size. The animal averages about 1200 mm at the shoulders. The Basal length, sex unknown, 350 mm; total, 380;width of zygoma,164; circumference of horn at base, 280; length of horn, 390; length of upper molarpremolar series, 106; length of lower molar-premolar series, 118; length of upper molar, 62; length of lower molars, 63; total length of lower jaw,322. The characteristics of Tamaraw, the skull moderately massive, narrow and elongate; profile of face almost straight; rostrum relatively long and slender. Molars Short, high with almost square crowns. Hair on back reversed being directed forward from haunches to head; ears relatively small. May be as big as the common carabao and medium-sized as the Tamaraw.

Spotted Sambar Deer

NAME: English: Spotted Sambar Deer Tagalog: Usa (East Visayan) Scientific: Cervus (Rusa) Alfredi ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat The Spotted Sambar Deer frequents the extensive coronal areas in the interior of Negros Island, both in lowlands and in the highlands up to about 1200 m. The species is abundant especially in the vicinity of extensive tracts of original forests where it can seek cover. The deer feeds on the young shoots of the cogon grass and on the young leaves and buds of low forest growth. The extensive coronals between Bayaon and Bais municipalities, in the rolling country of the interior, are favorite hunting grounds for deer. The animals attracted to the newly-burnt clearings in the forests where they lick the ashes for the their salt requirements. The favorite practice of the deer hunter is to burn wide tracts of cogon areas and then wait for a few weeks until the new shoots come up and then hunt at night the new shoots come up and then hunt at night with the aid of head lamps, or torches. The deer seems to be attracted helplessly to the beam of light and merely stands still. A hunters can easily bag half a dozen deer in s single night.

Description Medium-sized deer; hair soft and moderately long; general color rich dark brown with reddish brown tints; cheeks paler brown; forehead, occipital, neck and anterior parts of shoulders uniform dark brown, darkest along mid-dorsal line; posterior parts of shoulders, back and sides with roughly distinct oval yellowishwhite spots; lower jaw and throat dirty white, under parts whitish or yellowish white; limds above carpal and tarsal joints, externally uniform brown, internally dirty white; below carpal and tarsal joints, lighter brown. The sexes are similar in color ; the young are spotted at birth. This deer is easily distinguished from the other forms in other parts of the Philippines by its spots, which no other Philippine from possesses.

Palawan Bearcat

NAME: English: Palawan Bearcat Tagalog: Binturong Scientific: Arctictis Binturong ORIGIN Population Status/Origin /Distribution Habitat The Mammalian Fauna of the Philippine Islands is exceptionally diverse with over 165 species and at least 121 of which are endemic with the Philippines. One this species the Palawan Bearcat locally known as Manturon or Binturong. It is found only in Palawan. The Palawan Bearcat usually stays in denser vegetation both in original and secondary growth forests. it can also be found in lowlands and extends its range in to the hills and lower mountain slopes. It is arboreal, and uses its prehensile tails for climbing trees especially high canopy staying among dense clusters of the leaves where it difficult to discover. It is a nocturnal species and can only be seen through its eyes luminous eyes that stares for short periods against bright beams and flashlights. The Palawan bearcats is sometimes eaten by the natives. The fur is used in making caps, wraps and coats and is even used as decor. The species has been heavily affected by deforestation, hunting and trapping. Description The Palawan Bearcat has an elongated body head broad posterior becoming small and pointed toward the face. The ears are small and rounded and it has small eyes, prehensile long tail and short legs. It is generally colored black in the upper parts washed with reddish brown.