5 Endemic Species in Western Visayas
- Visayan Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi)
- Walden’s Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni)
- Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons)
- Rafflesia (Rafflesia speciosa)
- Panay Monitor Lizard (Varanus mabitang)
Visayan Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi)
The Visayan spotted deer, also known as the Philippine spotted deer, is a nocturnal and endangered species of deer located primarily in the rainforests of the Visayan islands of Panay and Negros though it once roamed other islands such as Cebu, Guimaras, Leyte, Masbate, and Samar. It is one of three endemic deer species in the Philippines, although it was not recognized as a separate species until 1993. An estimated 2,500 mature individuals survived worldwide as of 1996, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, although it is uncertain of how many of them still survive in the wild.
Walden’s Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni)
The Walden’s hornbill (habdotorrhinus waldeni) locally called Dulungan, also known as the Visayan wrinkled hornbill, rufous-headed hornbill, or writhed-billed hornbill, is a critically endangered species of hornbill living in the rainforests on the islands of Negros and Panay in the Philippines. It is closely related to the writhed hornbill but can be recognized by the yellow throat and ocular skin in males and the blue throat and ocular skin in female species (both throat and ocular skin are deep orange or red in both sexes of the writhed hornbill). its binomial name commemorates the Scottish ornithologist, Viscount Walden.
Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons)
Visayan Warty Pig is endemic in the Philippines where it is only known from the Negros-Panay faunal region. Their habitat is in primary and secondary forests from sea level to a mossy forest at 1600 meters above sea level (masl). But now it is found only above 800 meters above sea level due to habitat destruction and unabated hunting. It is now believed extinct in Cebu and Guimaras and its remaining population is increasingly rare and hybridizing with domestic pigs.
Rafflesia (Rafflesia speciosa)
Rafflesia speciosa is a parasitic plant species of the genu Rafflesia. It is endemic to the Philippine island of Panay. Rafflesia speciosa is the third Rafflesia species documented to exist in the Philippines, after R.nanillana and R.schadenbergiana. It belongs to the medium-sized Rafflesia. The species was named by Dr. Julie Barcelona and Edwino Fernando.
Rafflesia speciosa was discovered in the mountains of Sibalom Natural Park (particularly Mount Poras) in Antique, Panay by members of an outdoor club. It was adopted as the symbol of Sibalom Natural Park and the Municipality of Sibalom.
Panay Monitor Lizard (Varanus mabitang)
This species is endemic on the island of Panay in the Philippines. It is generally distributed in the forested parts of the mountain ranges of northwestern and western Panay. This highly arboreal species is associated with large trees in primary lowland tropical moist forest. It has been recorded between 200 to 1,000 meters above sea level,, however, it is particularly rare above 600 meters above sea level. This is a highly specialized frugivorous monitor lizard and reportedly needs Dipterocarpaceae as sleeping places.
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