Tropical rainforests exhibit a vast diversity of plant and animal species. Theories for why the tropics are so diverse include interspecific competition over limited resources leading species to find new niches or become extinct, as well as niche partitioning where species utilize different habitats, foods, behaviors to separate resource use. The document then provides details on many animal species endemic to the Philippines including the Philippine eagle, Draco lizards, Mindoro stripe-faced fruit bat, Palawan bearded pig, and others. It describes their key identifying characteristics and conservation status.

1. Biodiversity & Speciation

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Animals in the Rainforest
(Philippines)

5. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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,

10. The Philippine tube-nosed fruit bat (Nyctimene rabori) locally known
inTagalogas 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.

11. The Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons) is a critically endangered species in the pig genus (Sus).
TheVisayan warty pig is endemic to two of theVisayan Islands in the central Philippines, and
is threatened by habitat loss, food shortages, and hunting – these are the leading causes of
theVisayan warty pig's status as critically endangered

12. TheVisayan Spotted Deer also known as the Philippine Spotted Deer, is a nocturnal and
endangered species of deer located primarily in the rainforests of theVisayan islands of Panay
and Negros though it once roamed other islands such as Cebu, Guimaras, Leyte, Masbate,
and Samar.

13. 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.

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

15. 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

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

17. 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 inTarlac Province,
Luzon Islands.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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, Luz
on,Leyte and
possibly Sibuyan. It is
known locally as the
“kuwago” or “bukao”

22. 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

23. 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.

24. 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.