Mt. Kataglad, Mindanao, Philippines Photograph by Tom Brooks   Indo-Malay Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests   7,000 square miles (18,200 square kilometers) -- about the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined Critical/Endangered

· Mountains of Mindanao
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
More Photos

Mountains of Mindanao

Relatively rugged and remote, the mountains on the island of Mindanao are strongholds of survival for threatened forest species. The Philippine eagle, Philippine deer, and Philippine flying lemur are among the many vulnerable species that make their homes here.

Special Features

This ecoregion contains a mix of short, moss-covered dipterocarp trees and summit grasslands. In the upper reaches, tree trunks and limbs are often covered in ferns, begonias, lichens, and orchids. Although Mindanao lies south of the main typhoon track that hits the Philippines each year, it still receives enough precipitation to have a tropical wet climate.

	Imperial-pigeons (Ducula), such as this ecoregion’s spotted species, tend to be larger and less colorful than their fruit dove (Ptilinopus) cousins. Both groups of pigeons eat fruits and pass seeds intact in their droppings, unlike some other fruit-eating pigeons with highly specialized digestive tracts that grind up the hard seeds.

Wild Side

Many large mammals that live on this island’s higher reaches are endemic. The Philippine tree shrew, Philippine flying lemur, and the Mindanao moonrat are found only on Mindanao or small islands nearby. Other characteristic species include the golden-capped fruit bat and the Philippine warty pig, both of which are threatened species. Birds are plentiful in this ecoregion, with 41 species endemic or with restricted ranges. The endemic blue-capped kingfisher joins the Philippine eagle and the spotted imperial-pigeon as the ecoregion’s most threatened bird species.

Cause for Concern

The vast majority of forests remaining on Mindanao are found in the mountains. Lack of access and relatively poor commercial value combine to protect these highlands. Still, logging, agricultural development, fire, and hunting continue as threats to the forests and their species.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.