Sulawesi Moist Forests - A Global Ecoregion
Highest level of mammal endemism in Asia
Snapshot: Ecoregion 12
Size:
192,000 sq. km (74,000 sq. miles)
192,000 sq. km (74,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Geographic Location:
Southeast Asia: Sulawesi, a large island to the southeast of Borneo, in Indonesia
Conservation Status:
Critical/Endangered
Quiz Time!
What does "babirusa" mean?
Answer:
A babirusa's (Sulawesi wild pig) tusks grow right up through the top of its muzzle, rather than on the sides of its jaw as in most other wild pigs. This makes the tusks appear to be somewhat like the antlers of a deer, thus the name babirusa, which means "pig deer".
Answer:
A babirusa's (Sulawesi wild pig) tusks grow right up through the top of its muzzle, rather than on the sides of its jaw as in most other wild pigs. This makes the tusks appear to be somewhat like the antlers of a deer, thus the name babirusa, which means "pig deer".
About the Area
This Global ecoregion is made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Sulawesi lowland rain forests; Sulawesi montane rain forests. Extensive moist forests still cover a majority of the island, providing habitat for a wealth of wild species.
Local SpeciesMammal species include the unusual Sulawesi wild pig or babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa), the endemic Celebes black macaques (Macaca nigra), and the moor macaques (Macaca maura).
Found here and nowhere else are Sulawesi barebacked fruit bat (Dobsonia exoleta), Sulawesi tarsier (Tarsius spectrum), short-tailed Talaud melomys (Melomys caurinus), and Sulawesian palm civet (Macrogalidia musschenbroekii). Other species of interest include Sulawesi tree nymph butterfly (Idea tambusisiana), Swallowtail butterfly, Graphium androcles, Lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis), Mountain anoa (B. quarlesi), Sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus amboinensis), and the reticulated python (Python reticulatus).
Amongst the numerous endemic bird species are Sula scrubfowl (Megapodius bernsteinii), Bare-faced rail (Gymnocrex rosenbergii), Talaud kingfisher (Todirhamphus enigma), Pied cuckoo-shrike (Coracina bicolor), Cerulean paradise-flycatcher (Eutrichomyias rowleyi), Sulawesi hornbill (Penelopides exarhatus), Henna-tailed jungle-flycatcher (Rhinomyias colonus), and the Bare-eyed myna (Streptocitta albertinae).
Threats
While many of Indonesia's larger islands suffer from deforestation, Sulawesi still supports extensive tracts of both mountain and lowland moist forests. The island's steep slopes, and the relative lack of commercially valuable tree species, help contribute to the still extensive forests that cover over 60 per cent of the island. Logging pressures and burning forests for agriculture, consitute minor threats.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
