Satellite view of the coast of Myanmar   Southern Asia: Western Myanmar into Bangladesh Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests   25,700 square miles (66,600 square kilometers) -- about the size of West Virginia and Rhode Island combined Vulnerable

· From Mangroves to Mountains
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
More Photos

From Mangroves to Mountains

No two areas of this ecoregion are exactly alike. These moist lowland forests contain an extensive range of habitats and a surprising diversity of flora and fauna. Unfortunately, due to its close proximity to the coast, this ecoregion is also attractive to farmers, loggers, and poachers.

Special Features

Along the coast of Myanmar, the wet tropical lowlands of the Arakan Yoma and Tenasserim ranges are dominated by dipterocarp tree species, with an undergrowth of Calamus palms and creeping bamboo. In the southern part of the region, however, you can find brackish and fresh-water habitats full of Heritiera. In yet other areas of the ecoregion lie large tracts of mixed delta scrub and low forest, with a dense undergrowth of palm species.

	Although called the Asiatic golden cat, this speciesā fur comes in a remarkably wide range of colors -- from fox-red or golden-brown to black, brown, or gray. One variation even has rosettes and spots, creating a debate among scientists as to whether it is a subspecies or a separate species altogether.

Wild Side

The variety and richness of this ecoregionās habitats mean that several endangered species can find shelter here, even though the forests are disappearing. Mammals include tigers, Asian elephants, Malayan tapirs, wild dogs, sun bears, and Asiatic golden cats. Although endangered, the Malayan tapir is particularly adaptable to the diverse landscapes of this ecoregion, at home in swamps, lowlands, or montane forests. Another near-endemic mammal, the disk-footed bat, can be found here as well. And more than 350 bird species are also found in these varied habitats.

Cause for Concern

Most of the seasonal evergreen forests and nearly all of the freshwater swamps of this ecoregion have been cleared for agriculture. Cutting forests for timber is a growing threat to the regionās forest as well. Aside from habitat loss, poaching is the main threat to wildlife. Tigers are nearly extinct in the northern part of the ecoregion, and Sumatran rhinoceroses that once lived here have been locally extinct, or extirpated, from the ecoregion for more than 15 years.

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