Taiwan
Asia
Taiwan is a mountainous island formed by the collision of two plates, with more than two hundred summits above three thousand metres packed into a small area. That relief strings together, within a few kilometres, subtropical rainforest on the coast, laurel forest and conifers at altitude and alpine grassland on the peaks, which has generated an extremely high proportion of endemic species. The Taroko gorge, cut into marble by the Liwu river, is its most spectacular geological formation. In the high mountain rivers survives a relict salmon that was trapped after the last glaciation and is one of the southernmost salmonids on the planet. The coastal wetlands of the west host the black-faced spoonbill, and the south, at Kenting, contributes coral reefs.
The nature of Taiwan
National animal: The Formosan black bear, the island's emblematic animal
Did you know?
Every spring, millions of purple crow butterflies travel up the island from the southern valleys where they have spent the winter, in one of only two mass butterfly migrations known in the world alongside that of the American monarch. Their route crosses a national motorway, so the authorities close a lane, put up nets more than four metres high and install overpasses so the insects can cross without being run over.
Biodiversity profile
Climate
- •Tropical oceanico en el sur (Kenting)
- •Subtropical humedo en la mayor parte de la isla
- •Alpino frio en las cumbres centrales (Yushan, 3.952 m)
Main biomes
- •Arrecifes de coral tropicales (sur, Kenting)
- •Bosque subtropical y templado de montaña
- •Pastizales alpinos de alta montaña (Hehuanshan)
- •Gradiente climatico vertical completo en menos de 200 km, desde clima oceanico tropical hasta alpino frio
- •Bosque de laurisilva subtropical
- •Alta montaña con praderas alpinas
- •Garganta de mármol
- •Arrecife de coral
- •Humedal costero
- •Bosque nuboso de coníferas
- •Río de alta montaña
Marine and coastal ecosystems
- •Arrecifes de coral tropicales de Kenting (extremo sur de la isla)
Flagship wildlife
- •Oso negro de Formosa (Ursus thibetanus formosanus, endemico)
- •Salmon terrestre de Formosa (endemico, especie relicta glacial)
- •Urraca azul de Taiwan (ave endemica)
- •Macaco de Formosa
- •Mariposa tigre púrpura
- •Serow de Formosa
- •Salmón de Formosa
- •Espátula menor
- •Faisán de Mikado
- •Pangolín chino
- •Urraca de Formosa
- •Delfín jorobado del Indopacífico
Notable endemic species
- •25% de las especies registradas en Taiwan son endemicas, una de las proporciones mas altas del mundo para una isla
- •Oso negro de Formosa, salmon terrestre de Formosa y urraca azul de Taiwan como especies bandera endemicas
- •Mas de 50.000 especies conocidas en solo el 0,025% de la superficie terrestre mundial, con una densidad de especies por unidad de area 100 veces superior al promedio global
- •Salmón de Formosa
- •Oso negro de Formosa
- •Faisán de Mikado
- •Urraca de Formosa
- •Macaco de Formosa
Notable threatened species
- •Salmon terrestre de Formosa (En Peligro, relicto glacial restringido a rios de alta montaña de agua fria)
- •Oso negro de Formosa (En Peligro, poblacion reducida y fragmentada)
Notable protected areas
- •Parque Nacional Kenting (arrecifes de coral, extremo sur)
- •Parque Nacional Yushan (pico mas alto de Taiwan y Asia Oriental fuera del Himalaya)
- •Parque Nacional Hehuanshan (pastizales alpinos)
- •Parque Nacional de Taroko
- •Parque Nacional de Yushan
- •Parque Nacional de Kenting
- •Parque Nacional de Shei-Pa
- •Humedal de Qigu
- •Isla de las Orquídeas
Main conservation threats
- •Perdida de habitat por presion demografica y desarrollo en una isla de superficie muy reducida
- •Fragmentacion de poblaciones de especies endemicas de alta montaña
- •Cambio climatico sobre especies relictas de agua fria como el salmon terrestre de Formosa
Notable natural phenomena
- •Gradiente climatico vertical completo (tropical a alpino) concentrado en menos de 200 km de distancia horizontal, generador de una biodiversidad excepcional para el tamaño de la isla
Conservation
The Formosan clouded leopard was declared extinct in 2013 after years of fruitless searching. The Formosan landlocked salmon, isolated in a few high streams, has recovered from barely a few hundred individuals through captive breeding and stream restoration.
Where and when to watch wildlife
The southern valleys between November and March for the winter butterfly gathering. Yushan and Shei-Pa in summer for high-altitude wildlife. Qigu between October and April for the black-faced spoonbill.
Sources: Taiwan.md - Taiwan's Biodiversity Hotspots
Diving and snorkelling
Green Island (Lyudao)
A volcanic island with a rare coral reef near underwater hot springs.
View dive siteCoral reefKenting National Park
A marine national park at the southern tip of Taiwan with more than 300 coral species.
View dive siteVolcanic reef/PelagicOrchid Island (Lanyu)
An indigenous Tao island in the remote Bashi Channel, between Taiwan and the Philippines, with unique fishing traditions.
View dive sitePaíses similares
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Especies documentadas en Taiwan
266 species found
Critically EndangeredGiant Clam
Tridacna gigas
Critically EndangeredHelmeted Hornbill
Rhinoplax vigil
Critically EndangeredStaghorn Coral
Acropora cervicornis
Critically EndangeredChinese Pangolin
Manis pentadactyla
Critically EndangeredGreat Hammerhead
Sphyrna mokarran
Critically EndangeredOceanic Whitetip Shark
Carcharhinus longimanus
Critically EndangeredHawksbill Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
EndangeredBlue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
EndangeredAsian Elephant
Elephas maximus
EndangeredSunda Gharial
Tomistoma schlegelii
EndangeredLar Gibbon
Hylobates lar
EndangeredLong-tailed Macaque
Macaca fascicularis
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about Taiwan.