Endemic Animals of Taiwan

The Formosan rock macaque (Macaca cyclopis ), also known as the Formosan rock monkey or Taiwanese macaque, is a macaque endemic to the island of Taiwan, which has also been introduced to Japan. Besides humans, Formosan rock macaques are the only native primates living in Taiwan. The species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1862. Less

The Formosan black bear (臺灣黑熊, Ursus thibetanus formosanus ), also known as the Taiwanese black bear or white-throated bear, is a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear. It was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1864. Formosan black bears are endemic to Taiwan. In 2001, they were voted the most representative wildlife of Taiwan in a half-year-long countrywide voting campaign. They are also the largest land animals and the only native bears (Ursida ...
e ) in Taiwan.Because of severe exploitation and habitat degradation in recent decades, populations of wild Formosan black bears have been declining. This species was listed as "endangered" under Taiwan's Wildlife Conservation Act (Traditional Chinese: 野生動物保育法) in 1989. Their geographic distribution is restricted to remote, rugged areas at elevations of 1,000–3,500 metres (3,300–11,500 ft). Less

The Taiwan blue magpie (Urocissa caerulea ), also called the Taiwan magpie, Formosan blue magpie (Chinese: 臺灣藍鵲; pinyin: Táiwān lán què ), or the "long-tailed mountain lady" (Chinese: 長尾山娘; pinyin: Chángwěi shānniáng ; Taiwanese Hokkien: Tn̂g-boé soaⁿ-niû), is a species of bird of the crow family. It is endemic to Taiwan. Less

The Mikado pheasant (Syrmaticus mikado ) is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. Sometimes considered an unofficial national bird of Taiwan (along with the Swinhoe's pheasant and Taiwan blue magpie), a pair of Mikado pheasants and Yushan National Park, one of the areas it is known to inhabit, is depicted in the 1000 dollar bill of the New Taiwan dollar. Less

Swinhoe's pheasant (Lophura swinhoii ), also known as the Taiwan blue pheasant, is a bird of the pheasant subfamily in the fowl family Phasianidae. It is endemic to Taiwan. Along with the Mikado pheasant and Taiwan blue magpie, two other Taiwan endemics, Swinhoe's pheasant is sometimes considered an unofficial national symbol for Taiwan, as it bears the colours of the national flag (red, white, and blue). Less

The Taiwan serow (Capricornis swinhoei ) also known as the Formosan serow, is a small bovid that is endemic to the island of Taiwan. Less

The collared bush robin or Johnstone's robin (Tarsiger johnstoniae ) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to Taiwan, living in montane and subalpine forests. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a least-concern species. Less

The Taiwan barbet (Psilopogon nuchalis ) is a species of bird endemic to the country of Taiwan. Less

The Taiwan yuhina (Yuhina brunneiceps ), also known as Formosan yuhina, is a small songbird endemic to the island of Taiwan. Less

The Taiwan whistling thrush (Myophonus insularis ), also known as the Formosan whistling thrush, is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to Taiwan. Less

Steere's liocichla (Liocichla steerii ) is a bird in the family Leiothrichidae. The species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1877.It is endemic to Taiwan. Less

The Taiwan scimitar babbler (Pomatorhinus musicus ) is a bird in the family Timaliidae, the Old World babblers. It is endemic to Taiwan. The species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1859. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the streak-breasted scimitar babbler. Its population is declining, but not rapidly enough for it to be considered vulnerable. Less

The Taiwan bush warbler (Locustella alishanensis ) is a species of Old World warbler in the family Locustellidae. It is found only in Taiwan. Its natural habitat is undergrowth and grassland 1,200–3,000 m (3,900–9,800 ft) in elevation. It was first recorded in 1917 and named as a distinct species in 2000. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a least-concern species. Less

The Taiwan fulvetta (Fulvetta formosana ) is a bird species in the family Sylviidae. Like the other typical fulvettas, it was long included in the Timaliidae genus Alcippe. In addition, it was long included in F. cinereiceps as a subspecies.This species is endemic to Taiwan. Less

The flamecrest or Taiwan firecrest (Regulus goodfellowi ) (Chinese: 火冠戴菊鳥 or 台灣戴菊), is a species of bird in the kinglet family, Regulidae, that is endemic to the mountains of the island of Taiwan. Less

The chestnut-bellied tit (Sittiparus castaneoventris ) is a small passerine bird in the tit family Paridae that is endemic to Taiwan.The chestnut-bellied tit was first described by the English ornithologist John Gould in 1863 and given the binomial name Parus castaneoventris. It was formerly considered as a subspecies of the varied tit but was promoted to species status after the publication of a phylogenetic study in 2014.The species differs ...
from the varied tit in having underparts of a deep chestnut colour. Less

The Taiwan hwamei (Garrulax taewanus ) is a passerine bird in the family Leiothrichidae. The species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1859. It is endemic to the island of Taiwan. It was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the Chinese hwamei (Garrulax canorus ) but has recently been split as a separate species. It is estimated to have diverged from the Chinese hwamei about 1.5 million years ago.It is about 24 centimetres long. It is ...
mainly grey brown with heavy streaks on the crown, nape and back and fine streaks on much of the underparts. It lacks the white eye-markings of the Chinese hwamei which is also more rufous in colour and less heavily streaked. The whistling song is long, melodious and varied.It inhabits secondary woodland in the foothills and lower mountains up to 1,200 metres above sea level. It forages alone, in pairs or in small groups, searching amongst the understorey for insects and seeds.It has a declining population of 1-10,000 individuals and is classified as a near threatened species by BirdLife International. Habitat loss may affect its numbers but the main threat is hybridization with introduced populations of the Chinese hwamei. Less

The Taiwan partridge or Taiwan hill partridge (Arborophila crudigularis ) is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is found only in Taiwan, and its natural habitat is broadleaf forests. It is threatened by habitat loss, but at present is categorised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as being of least concern. Less

The white-eared sibia (Heterophasia auricularis ) is a bird in the laughingthrush family Leiothrichidae. The species is sometimes placed in the monotypic genus Malacias. It was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1864. There are no subspecies. Less

The Taiwan bamboo partridge (Bambusicola sonorivox ) is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is endemic to Taiwan. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Chinese bamboo partridge. Less

Styan's bulbul (Pycnonotus taivanus, Chinese: 烏頭翁) is an endemic species of bulbul found in eastern and southern Taiwan. Though common in some areas, it has been listed as a species vulnerable to extinction. Its decline has been caused by habitat destruction and hybridisation with the closely related Chinese or light-vented bulbul. The two species' ranges overlap in several areas, partly because birds of the latter species have been released for Buddh ...
ist ceremonies. The species has already become extinct in Yilan County (Taiwan). Less

Niltava (from niltau, Nepali for N. sundara ) is a genus of passerine birds in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae.The genus contains the following seven species: Fujian niltava (Niltava davidi ) Rufous-bellied niltava (Niltava sundara ) Rufous-vented niltava (Niltava sumatrana ) Chinese vivid niltava (Niltava oatesi ) Taiwan vivid niltava (Niltava vivida ) Large niltava (Niltava grandis ) Small niltava (Niltava macgrigoriae ) Less

The Taiwan cupwing or Taiwan wren-babbler (Pnoepyga formosana ) is a species of passerine bird in the family Pnoepygidae. The species is endemic to the island of Taiwan. It was treated for a long time as a subspecies of the scaly-breasted cupwing. Less

The Taiwan shortwing (Brachypteryx goodfellowi ) is a species of chat. This species is now classified in the family Muscicapidae.It is endemic to Taiwan. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is a shy skulker, preferring to be on or near the ground, in the depths of dark vegetation, where it feeds on small insects, larvae, berries, seeds, sprouts and new buds of plants. The nest consists of moss and grass ...
stems, placed in a dense shrub. Less

The rufous-crowned laughingthrush (Pterorhinus ruficeps ) is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae.It is endemic to Taiwan. It was previously considered conspecific with the white-throated laughingthrush, P. albogularis. This species was formerly placed in the genus Garrulax but following the publication of a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study in 2018, it was moved to the resurrected genus Pterorhinus. Less

The rusty laughingthrush (Pterorhinus poecilorhynchus ) is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae.It is found in Taiwan. It formerly included the buffy laughingthrush of mainland China as a subspecies. Compared to the rusty laughingthrush, the buffy laughingthrush has paler grey underparts, more contrasting rufous wings, broader white tips to the tail, and distinct black lores.This species was formerly placed in the genus Garrulax but ...
following the publication of a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study in 2018, it was moved to the resurrected genus Pterorhinus. Less

The black-necklaced scimitar babbler (Erythrogenys erythrocnemis ) is a species of bird in the family Timaliidae.It is found in Taiwan. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. Less

Hynobius formosanus, the Taiwan salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Hynobiidae, endemic to Taiwan, where it occurs in the high mountains at around 2,100 m (6,900 ft). Its natural habitats are from open alpine habitats to shaded moist evergreen forests. Adults have a total length of 58–98 mm (2.3–3.9 in). Less

Hynobius arisanensis, the Alishan salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Hynobiidae endemic to Taiwan. It occurs in the Alishan Range, the Yushan Range, and southern Central Mountain Range, where it lives at altitudes of 1,800–3,600 m (5,900–11,800 ft) above sea level. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, and freshwater springs. It is usually hiding during day time.Adult H. arisanensis measure 5.0–6.5 cm (2.0–2.6 in) in snout–ve ...
nt length. It is blackish-brown to reddish-brown dorsally and somewhat lighter brown or grey-brown ventrally. Less

Hynobius sonani, the Taichu salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Hynobiidae, endemic to Taiwan, where it occurs in the Central Mountain Range above 2,750 m (9,020 ft). Its natural habitats are from open alpine habitats to shaded moist evergreen forests; it breeds in streams.Adult males are 98–129 mm (3.9–5.1 in) and females are 90–105 mm (3.5–4.1 in) in length.The original specimens used to describe H. sonani (along with H. arisanensis a ...
nd H. formosanus ) were lost in the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake.Hynobius sonani has very fragmented distribution and is threatened by habitat loss, mainly caused by the development of infrastructure for tourism. It is present in Taroko National Park. Less

Rana longicrus, also known as the Taipa frog or long-legged brown frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is distributed to northern and central Taiwan. Less

Zhangixalus arvalis is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to western and southwestern Taiwan and is present in agricultural areas of Chiayi, Yunlin, and Tainan Counties. Common name farmland green treefrog has been coined for it. Less

Zhangixalus aurantiventris (common names: orange-belly treefrog, orange-bellied treefrog) is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Taiwan. It is known from scattered localities across Taiwan at low to mid altitudes. Less

Diploderma swinhonis, also known commonly as the Taiwan japalure, Swinhoe's japalure, Swinhoe's lizard, and Swinhoe's tree lizard (Chinese: 斯文豪氏攀蜥), is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to Taiwan. It is considered an invasive alien species in Japan after likely being transported from Taiwan by humans. A foraging ambush predator, this lizard preys primarily on arthropods and thus remains at the bottom of forests perched on ...
trees where sunlight is present. Diploderma swinhonis is not a major threat to humans and is able to adapt to a variety of habitats, including urban environments. Male Diploderma swinhonis are physically distinct from females, with their body sizes being much larger and having a yellow stripe. These lizards sexually reproduce on a seasonal basis and hibernate during the winter time. Less

Trimeresurus gracilis, commonly known as the Taiwan pit viper or Taiwan mountain pitviper, is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Taiwan. No subspecies are currently recognized. The species is known as kikushi habu in Japanese. Less

Sinomicrurus sauteri (common names: Taiwan coral snake, oriental coral snake and Formosa coral snake) is a highly venomous species of snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Taiwan and known from southern and central Taiwan at elevations of 500–1,500 m (1,600–4,900 ft) above sea level. Less

Sinomicrurus sauteri (common names: Taiwan coral snake, oriental coral snake and Formosa coral snake) is a highly venomous species of snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Taiwan and known from southern and central Taiwan at elevations of 500–1,500 m (1,600–4,900 ft) above sea level. Less

Achalinus niger, common name black odd-scaled snake or black burrowing snake, is a snake in family Xenodermatidae that is endemic to Taiwan. Less

Takydromus formosanus, also known as the Formosa grass lizard, is a species of lizard endemic to Taiwan. Its body is about 6 cm long, and the total length reaches 22 cm. Its back is brown, with a yellow-green stripe on its side. It can be commonly found around the island, usually at elevations under 1500 m, living in grasses and shrubs. It is diurnal and eats small invertebrates. It is capable of caudal autotomy. The species was described by Ge ...
orge Albert Boulenger in 1894. Less

Formosa slug snake or Taiwan slug snake, Pareas formosensis, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Pareatidae. It is endemic to Taiwan. Less

The short-legged japalure (Diploderma brevipes ) is a species of lizard endemic to Taiwan. It is found in mountains at elevations of 1100 to 2200 m and inhabits forest edges. It has a 10-cm long body, and the total length reaches 25 cm. It is sexually dimorphic. The male has a black back, with yellow-green spots and stripes. The female is mainly green. A diurnal and oviparous species, it eats insects and other small invertebrates. The species w ...
as described by J. Linsley Gressitt in 1936. It is listed as other conservation-deserving wildlife in the Taiwan Wildlife Conservation Act. This lizard is closely related to Diploderma swinhonis Less

Diploderma luei is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Taiwan. Less