Fauna and Flora

A rich biodiversity

Myanmar supports some of the most intact natural habitats and species communities remaining in the Indo-Myanmar (Indo-Burma) hotspot of biodiversity, as well as many endemic and globally threatened species. There is a lack of detailed baseline data for many taxonomic groups of animals and plants, and new species to sciences are continuously discovered in the country, even among vertebrates. Famous recent discoveries include the Leaf Deer (Muntjacus putaoensis), found in the forests of the north in 1997 and as many as 14 new reptiles. Due to the remotedness of the Mergui Archipelago and its isolation from the outside world since the late 40's, the biodiversity of this unique region is even less known than in the rest of the country. Knowing that the archipelago lies along the Isthmus of Kra - which separates the Indochinese and Sundaic (Malesian) biogeographic regions - ECoSwiss decided to investigate the incredibly rich biodiversity of the region. In the area it is possible to find species of both biogeographic regions, and as investigations go on more and more species new to science are expected to be discovered.

Flora and vegetation communities

South-eastern Asian forests are among the oldest and species-richest of the planet. Particularly, plant diversity in Myanmar is among the highest in mainland Asia, with over 6000 species in Northern Myanmar, 3000 in the Tanintharyi Division, 2500 in the Natmataung National Park and the Chin Hills and 2000 in the Bago Yoma Range (Davis et al. 1995).
		Mangrove forest of Lampi Island Marine National Park

Altogether the country’s checklist of gymnosperms and angiosperms includes as many as 11800 species (Kress et al. 2003). At present ECoSwiss scientists are investigating the vegetation of the Mergui Archipelago, which is very rich and varied. Forests types include Lowland Tropical Evergreen Rainforest, Beach Forest, Swamp Forest and Mangrove Forest.


	Untouched tropical forests cover all islands		Flower

Mammals

	Myanmar is home to 251 species of mammals, although several have not been confirmed in recent years. Seven species are considered endemic, while several have a distribution range restricted to the country and parts of the neighbouring countries (e.g. the Leaf Deer). Thirty-nine mammals are recognized as globally threatened in the country, including the Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus – Vulnerable) and the Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata – Vulnerable), which are known to live in the Mergui Archipelago. Other mammals of the archipelago include Jungle Cats (Felis chaus), Asian Elephants (Elaphas maximus), Crab-eating Mangooses (Herpestes urva), Giant Squirrels (Ratufa sp.), Crab-eating (or Long-tailed) Macaques (Macaca fascicularis), Dusky Langurs (Thrachypithecus obscurus), Lesser Mouse Deers (Tragulus javanicus), Muntjac Deers (Muntiacus sp.), Wildboars (Sus scrofa), Smooth-coated Otters (Lutra perspicillata), Treeshrews (Tupaia sp.) and many more.
			Dusky Langur

Birds

Among birds, 1027 species have been recorded in Myanmar, a greater diversity than any other country in mainland Southeast Asia. Four bird species are endemic to the country and 19 have a restricted range; most of these are found in central and northern Myanmar. Forty-four bird species are considered globally threatened, including the Gurney’s Pitta (Pitta gurneyi – Critically Endangered) and the Plain-pouched Hornbill (Aceros subruficollis – Vulnerable) which inhabit the lowland forests of the Tanintharyi Division and nearby Thailand. Our team has discovered a healthy population of Plain-pouched Hornbills inhabiting the Mergui Archipelago, while we are searching for the Gurney's Pitta in the lowland forests of the islands. Two more hornbills have been found, the Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) and the Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris).

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

The Mergui Archipelago is home to a great variety of other birds, including many birds of prey and a wealth of passerines, waders, herons and more. White-bellied Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus leucogaster), Brahminy Kites (Haliastur indus), Jerdon's Bazas (Aviceda jerdoni), Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) and more raptors; Nicobar Pigeons (Caloenas nicobarica) and Pied Imperial Pigeons (Ducula bicolor); several species of kingfishers including the uncommon Brown-winged Kingfisher (Halcyon amauroptera) and the striking Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris); herons such as the rare Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana), the Pacific Reef Egret (Egretta sacra) and the common Little Heron (Butorides striatus) are just few of the birds commonly seen on the islands.


	Asian Fairy Bluebird (Irena puella )		Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica)

Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) winter in good numbers on the beaches of the archipelago

Reptiles and Amphibians

At least 279 species of reptiles and 82 of amphibians inhabit Myanmar, but data are far from definitive and many species still await to be discovered and described. Many are the endemics and twenty are recognized as globally threatened. Reptiles and amphibians of the Mergui Archipelago are currently being investigated in our project. Interesting reptiles that live on the islands include Reticulated Pythons (Python reticulatus), Mangrove Pit-Vipers (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus), Monitor Lizards (Varanus sp.), Forest Crested Lizards (Calotes emma), various skinks including the Speckled Forest Skink (Mabuya macularia) and various geckos, of which the Tokay (Gekko gecko) is the largest. Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) nest on the beaches of the archipelago, but these endangered sea turtles are today rare due to eggs collection and adult killing by fishermen. More species are to be discovered, and we are especially interested in freshwater species such as terrapins and frogs which could turn out to be endemic to the islands.

Similarly, over 350 species of fish are known from the freshwater ecosystems of the country, but many more are still to be discovered. A great part of these are expected to be endemics.


	Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus)		Unknown frog

Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are complex and diverse ecosystems which shelter some of the most antique forms of life found on earth. Staghorn Corals, Brain Corals, Mushroom Corals, Fire Corals, Soft Corals and Sea Fans are some of the kind of corals met in the reefs that surround the islands of the Mergui Archipelago. Far from the common tourist destinations, these reefs remain still to be studied, and ECoSwiss is the first organization that set up a coral monitoring in collaboration with ReefCheck since 2002.

Coral reef teeming with fish

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