If your vacation revolves around wildlife and wildlife viewing, scientists have discovered what often is the answer to your prayers. New research has found that the island has the best variety of unique animal species on this planet, with 52 different species found nowhere else on earth.
According to a research team that has been studying it for fifteen years, Aladdin’s Cave is teeming with biodiversity in Luzon, the most important island within the Philippines.
They discovered that there are 56 species of non-flying mammals on the island, the overwhelming majority of that are absolutely unique.
Of the 56 mammals on Luzon, half were discovered during a research project, meaning there should still be undiscovered species there.
Professor Scott Steppan said: “It has turn into clear that the island of Luzon has exceptional diversity and the best concentration of mammal diversity, I might say, on the planet.”
The island is roughly 40,000 square miles in size, and its unique wildlife has evolved in isolation from the mainland. One of the explanations for the big biodiversity is the indisputable fact that it’s tropical but additionally very mountainous.
About the identical size of Cuba, there are 15 flightless mammals, most of that are native to the island. There are 39 non-flying land mammals within the state of Florida, but just one is exclusive to the state.
The mountain peaks create what scientists have called “heavenly islands” which can be completely different from the habitats found elsewhere on the island.
This meant the evolution of, for instance, 4 distinct species of tiny tree mice with exceptionally long whiskers and five species of shrew-like mice that feed on earthworms.
Professor Steppan said: “The discovery of 28 latest species on one island – an island that had previously been quite well studied – exceeded expectations.”
He said the research showed there could also be many more species which have never been discovered, especially within the tropics where intensive research has not been done.
Luzon isn’t only home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, but additionally several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including town of Vigan, many spectacular baroque churches, and a few of the Philippines’ famous rice terraces.
(Source: Lonely planet || UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA STATE)
