The biological diversity of the Philippines is extraordinary rich and includes the highest concentration of endemic species known in the world. Biodiversity scientists now consider the Philippines as a superpower of global biodiversity. Some of the process crucial to the evolution of the unique biodiversity of the Philippines are: i) the islands' complex geological history with long periods of isolation, ii) a dynamic sequence of fragmentation and coalescence of landmasses during the Pleistocene brought about by sea-level changes, iii) authochthonous diversification and speciation of ancestral species stocks within the archipelago, and iv) a biota that was derived from two distinct biogeographic regions of the planet.
Information amassed from biodiversity inventories in recent decades has tremendously enriched biodiversity knowledge in the Philippines, enhanced ongoing conversation efforts, and also provided the foci for identifying key biodiversity areas across the islands. Among the most astonishing results of field surveys undertaken by scientists was the persistent discovery of undescribed species, not only of poorly known or uncharismatic groups (such as earthworms, rats, bats, snakes, and lizards) but even of well studied groups (like birds, butterflies, and flowering plants) and relatively large and conspicuous species (such as parasitic plants of the genus Rafflesia, marine crustaceans, and flying foxes).
"The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plane to its culture." Thomas Jefferson
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| Philippine Eagle |
The Philippine Eagle: A symbol of pride and dignity of Filipinos.
The Philippine Eagle, Pithecophaga jefferyi is one of the world's rarest, tallest, powerful bird of prey and also one of the most threatened animal on earth. The first specimen was discovered in Paranas (Bonga), Samar by British explorer/naturalist JohnWhitehead in 1896. The Philippine Eagle was formerly known as the Monkey-eating Eagle because when it was discovered, it was observed to prey exclusively on monkeys. The description of its genus was derived from the Greek word, "pithecus" meaning "ape or monkey" and "phagus" meaning "eater of". Likewise, the species was named after John's father, Jeffery Whitehead, who funded most of his expeditions.
The Philippine Eagle, after a recent comparison with other large eagles of the world probes to be the largest in size. It was declared the Nationa Bird of the Philippines in 1995 bu former President Fidel V. Ramos under proclamation 615 through the efforts of foreign environmental advocates and Filipino biologist. Prior to the Philippine Eagle, our former national bird was the "maya" which refers to a group of birds called munias.
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| Spot-billed Pelican Pelicanus philippinensis |
The only species of Pelican recorded in the Philippines. It breeds in the country despite the occurence of migratory populations. It is once considered common in Laguna de Bay and Candaba marsh as well as in the coast in Bulacan in the early 1900s. They are believed to be extinct in the Philippines with no documented records since 1940.
Spot-billed Pelican is found in southern Euro-Asia east to China, south through Southeast Asia to Sumatra and the Philippines.
In the Philippines, the species is known to occur in Luzon: Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Laguna de Bay, Bicol, Pangasinan, Cagayan Valler in Isabela and in Mindanao; Lake Bulusan, Liguasan Marsh, Rio Grande and Gulf of Davao.
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| Sarus Crane Grus Antigone luzonica |
The Sarus crane Grus antigone is the tallest flying bird in the world. Sarus cranes are found in two continents and are the only species of crane that breeds in India and Southeast Asia. It is once reported as abundant of the plains and marshes in Central Luzon at Candaba marsh and in the Cagayan River Valley in northern Luzon. Surveys made by the Bureau of Forest Developments in the '70s and '80s produced no records.
Sarus cranes are found in Northern India, Southwestern China, Southeast Asia, northern Australia and the Philippines. The specimen of Sarus crane represents the extinct Philippine subspecies Grus Antigone luzonica. Recent sightings of the species were in 1979 at Tabuk, Kalinga Apayao and in the 1960s in the municipalities of Jones Ilagan and Cauayan, all in Cagayan River Valley.
