Southeast China-Hainan Moist Forests - A Global Ecoregion
The richest subtropical forests in Asia
Snapshot: Ecoregion 23
Size:
903,411 sq. km (348,807 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Geographic Location:
Southeastern China, Vietnam
Conservation Status:
Critical/Endangered
Quiz Time!
How are Chinese water pines similar to Cypress trees?
Answer:
Chinese water pines are deciduous trees with needles that use special roots to breathe. They are similar to the Cypress trees in the southern part of the United States, for e.g. - they also drop their needles during the dry season.
About the Area
This Global ecoregion is made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Jian Nan subtropical evergreen forests; South China-Vietnam subtropical evergreen forests; Hainan Island monsoon rain forests.
A relatively stable climate over a long period of time has led to the development of a very diverse flora and fauna, including roughly 1,700 families of seed-bearing plants.Some of these are endemic, monotypic (one species per family); others include ancient species, such as the Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) or Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides).
Local Species
Mammals include Serow (Cappricornis sumatrensis), and Leopard (Panthera pardus). Birds include species such as Pale-headed woodpecker (Gecinulus grantia), Black-throated parrotbill (Paradoxornis nipalensis), Red-tailed laughing thrush (Garrulax milnei), Great barbet (Megalaima virens), Long-tailed silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera), Cabot's tragopan (Tragopan caboti), Collared scops owl (Otus bakkamoena), and Rufous fantailed warbler (Cisticola juncidis).
Other species, like Silver oriole (Oriolus mellianus) have ranges that are partly or entirely restricted to this ecoregion.
Endemic amphibians include the tiny Romer's tree frog (Philautus romeri), Hong Kong newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis), Asiatic salamander (Vibrissaphora liu), Tree frog (Hyla sanchiangensis), and the Horned toad (Megophrys kuatunensis).
Threats
Threats include habitat loss through agricultural expansion, excessive hunting, development pressures caused by high population density, and a rapidly growing economy.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
