Taiwan

Mammals found nowhere else include the Formosan Rock Macaque (ARKive), the Formosan Serow (Ultimate Ungulate), the Formosan Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Bats in China), the Formosan Yellow-throated Bat and the Formosan Long-eared Bat (both at NMNS), the Formosan Tube-nosed Bat (Bats in China), the Formosan Field Mouse (Taipei Zoo), the Formosan Mole Shrew (BiotaTaiwanica), and the Taiwan Long-tailed Shrew (BiotaTaiwanica). The Taiwan High Mountain Least Weasel Mustela formosana (Tzu Chi) is sometimes recognized as a full species distinct from the more widespread Siberian Weasel Mustela sibirica and the Formosan Sika Deer (flickr) is also sometimes considered a full species Cervus taioanus.

Birds unique to Taiwan include the Mikado Pheasant (ARKive), Swinhoe’s Pheasant (ARKive), the Taiwan Partridge (ARKive), the Formosan Blue Magpie (gio.gov.tw), the Collared Bush-robin (Birding in Taiwan), the Flamecrest (Birding in Taiwan), the Taiwan Bulbul (BirdLife Int'l), the White-whiskered Laughingthrush (Birding in Taiwan), the Yellow Tit (Birding in Taiwan), the White-eared Sibia (gio.gov.tw), Steere’s Liocichla (IBC), the Taiwan Yuhina (Birding in Taiwan), and the Formosan Whistling-thrush (gio.gov.tw). Other endemic birds sometimes recognized as distinct species include the Taiwan Fulvetta, Taiwan Scimitar Babbler, and Taiwan Hwamei (all at Birding Nerd) and the Taiwan Blue Magpie (IBC).

Reptiles exclusive to Taiwan include the Taiwan Coral Snake Hemibungarus sauteri (Yangmingshan), the Taiwan Mountain Pit Viper Trimeresurus gracilis (NTU), the Black Odd-scaled Snake Achalinus niger (Snakes of Taiwan), the Taiwan Keelback Rhabdophis swinhonis (NTU), the Taiwan Slug-eating Snake Pareas formosensis (Snakes of Taiwan), Kikuchi’s Gecko Gekko kikuchii (flickr), the Formosan Legless Lizard Ophisaurus formosensis (TESRI), the Hsuehshan Grass Lizard Takydromus hsueshanensis (gio.gov.tw), and the Short-legged Japalura Japalura brevipes (nature.hc.edu.tw).

Amphibians restricted to Taiwan include Moltrecht’s Green Tree Frog (NTU), the Meintein Tree Frog (Frog Home), the Brown Tree Frog (Natural Scenery of Taiwan), the Brown Frog (ARKive), the Central Formosan Toad (flickr), Stejneger’s Narrow-mouthed Toad (Frog Home), Sonani’s Salamander (gio.gov.tw), the Formosan Salamander (ARKive), and the recently described Taiwan Lesser Salamander Hynobius fuca (naturalis). Sauter’s Wood Frog (flickr) is sometimes considered to represent an endemic genus.

Freshwater fishes living solely in Taiwan include the Formosan River Loach (Loaches Online), the Formosan Torrent Catfish (NTU), the Taiwan Bagrid Catfish (FishBase), a freshwater goby Rhinogobius lanyuensis (Fish Database of Taiwan), the Taiwan Ku Fish (gio.gov.tw), a minnow Zacco pachycephalus (gio.gov.tw), and an endemic genus of minnow Pararasbora moltrechti (NTU). Endemic marine fish include the Taiwan Saddled Carpetshark (Fish Database of Taiwan), a hagfish Quadratus yangi (FishBase), a squirrelfish Myripristis formosa (Fish Database of Taiwan), Shen’s Basslet Pleactranthias sheni (Zoological Studies pdf file), a righteye flounder Samariscus filipectoralis (Fish Database of Taiwan), and an endemic genus, the Taiwanese Barbel Moray (Fish Database of Taiwan).

Insects confined to Taiwan include the Highland Red-bellied Swallowtail (gio.gov.tw), the butterflies Euthalia formosana (flickr) and Ypthima formosana (flickr), a silk moth Loepa mirandula (flickr), a looper moth Comostola ocellulata (eol), a dragonfly Sinogomphus formosanus (flickr), the Lanyu Giant Katydid (forest.gov.tw), the Brilliant Jewel Beetle (forest.gov.tw), the Formosan Stag Beetle (forest.gov.tw), a longhorned beetle Paraglenea swinhoei (flickr), the Rainbow Click Beetle (forest.gov.tw), and the Nanhutashan Ground Beetle (flickr). Endemic land snails include Helicostyla okadai (flickr), Cyclophorus formosensis (flickr), Japonia lanyuensis (Taiwan Malacofauna Database), and Satsuma longkiauwensis (DYU). Other endemic invertebrates include a terrestrial crab Geothelphusa albogilva (Natural Scenery of Taiwan), a river crab Nanhaipotamon formosanum (ARKive), and a lynx spider Peucetis formosensis (flickr).

Among about 1071 vascular plant species founly only in Taiwan are the Taiwan Spruce (ARKive), the Taiwan Cypress (ARKive), the Taiwan Fir (ARKive), a conifer Amentotaxus formosana (ocac.gov.tw), the Nakai Podocarp (ARKive), the extinct in the wild Kanehira Azalea (forest.gov.tw), the Yushan Rhododendron (Natural Scenery of Taiwan), the Taiwan Lily (Natural Scenery of Taiwan), the Taiwan Paulownia (Natural Scenery of Taiwan), Magnolia kachirachirai (ARKive), Camellia hengchunensis (econgis.forest.gov.tw), Gentiana arisanensis (Natural Scenery of Taiwan), Dianthus pygmaeus (flickr), Ophiorrhiza michelloides (flickr), the Formosa Firethorn (ARKive), Cycas taitungensis (Cycad Pages), and several orchids: Ponerorchis kiraishiensis (Kinmatsu's Realms), Cypripedium segawai (ARKive), and Calanthe arisanensis (flickr). Endemic genera include the Taiwan Fragrant Orchid (IOPSE), Sinopanax (flickr), and Kudoacanthus (Flora of Taiwan).

Taiwan is part of the Southern Japan, Taiwan and Southern China coral reef hotspot (Reef Guardian pdf file). The island is divided into two terrestrial ecoregions: the South Taiwan Monsoon Rain Forests (EoE) and the Taiwan Subtropical Evergreen Forests (EoE). An important freshwater ecoregion is the Western Taiwan (FEOW).