Animals in Indonesia (Southern Borneo)

Updated: May 21, 2021
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Below you can find a complete list of Southern Indonesian animals. We currently track 189 animals in Indonesia (Southern Borneo) and are adding more every day!

The tropical rainforests, peat swamps, freshwater swamp forests and mangroves in Indonesia (Southern Borneo) are home to all kinds of unique animals. Some of the more recognizable ones include orangutans, Siamese crocodiles, and the Bornean slow loris. In terms of species, Indonesia (Southern Borneo) is home to 222 mammals, 420 birds, 394 fish and more than 150 species of reptiles and amphibians.

The Official National Animal of Indonesia (Southern Borneo)

The national animal of Indonesia is the Komodo dragon. The Komodo dragon is the largest lizard in existence and is endemic to Indonesia. These creatures can grow as long as 10 feet and weigh up to 300 pounds. This large, powerful mammal has a long history stretching back about a million years!

Indonesia is home to Komodo National Park. This park was created in 1980 to offer protection to Komodo dragons so they wouldn’t become extinct. These creatures now have a conservation status of Vulnerable. The exact population of this animal is unknown.

A couple other animals serve as national emblems of Indonesia. The national bird is the Javan hawk-eagle. This majestic eagle has an intricate pattern of dark and light brown feathers along with a black crest atop its head. These birds are considered an Endangered species.

The Asian arowana is the national fish of Indonesia. The Asian arowana is a freshwater fish that can reach a length of 35 inches. These fish are said to resemble the Chinese dragon and are considered symbols of good luck. The Asian arowana is categorized as Endangered.

The Most Dangerous Animals in Indonesia (Southern Borneo) Today

Not surprisingly, the rainforests and swamps of Indonesia (Southern Borneo) are home to a few dangerous animals. Luckily, many of these animals stay hidden most of the time. The most dangerous animals in Indonesia (Southern Borneo) include:

  • Saltwater Crocodiles – Saltwater crocodiles are dangerous because of their size, speed, and ability to stay hidden until they’re ready to strike. Male saltwater crocodiles can grow as long as 19.8 feet and weigh as much as 2,200 pounds! Furthermore, they can swim a short distance at a rate of 18 mph. From 2007 to 2016 there were 221 attacks on humans by crocodiles resulting in 129 deaths.
  • Sun Bear – Looking at its name it doesn’t seem like a sun bear would be threatening. But they are known for their aggressive nature. Though these are small bears standing at about 28 inches tall and weighing between 140 and 150 pounds, they have long, curved claws and powerful teeth. The number of people attacked by sun bears is unknown. But villagers in Indonesia (Southern Borneo) recognize the serious danger posed by sun bears and avoid going into their territory.
  • White-Lipped Green Pit Viper – This is a bright green snake with yellow eyes. It is venomous and responsible for 50 percent of all venomous snake bites in Indonesia. This snake stays in the trees and attacks its prey from above. Most people who are bitten do not see this reptile until it’s too late. The good news is though their bite is painful, the venom is not deadly to humans in most cases.
  • Water Monitor – This is a large species of lizard measuring up to six feet, seven inches in length and sometimes weighing up to 100 pounds. These animals usually stay away from humans, but can be dangerous if encountered. Their long tail is what makes them dangerous. They have the power to swiftly whip their long, powerful tail causing deep cuts requiring stitches. Their bite is venomous though their venom is considered mild.

Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Indonesia (Southern Borneo)

The muddy mangroves, freshwater swamp forests, and rainforests are home to many unique animals. Here are some places where you can see unique and famous wildlife in Indonesia (Southern Borneo).

  • Orangutans – Orangutans live in the tops of trees in rainforests as well as around mangrove swamps. Tanjung Puting National Park and Gunung Palung Park are home to many orangutan families.
  • Proboscis Monkey – These odd-looking monkeys live in mangrove forests. Proboscis monkeys are also found in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesia.
  • Sun Bear – Sun bears live around swamps and in tropical forests. You can see them in Tanjung Puting National Park.
  • Clouded Leopard – These mammals are adept climbers living deep in the Indonesian rainforests. Some of these leopards live in Kutai National Park. These leopards stay so well-hidden, they were once thought to be extinct.
  • Yellow-Throated Marten – This small mammal resembles a ferret. They have a tropical forest habitat and many live in Kutai National Park.
  • Gibbon – These tropical rainforest dwellers are acrobats swinging on branches and moving with agility through the trees. They can be seen in Sebangau National Park.

Endangered Animals

Habitat loss due to logging activity, construction, and land expansion is one of the threats to many wild animals living in Indonesia (Southern Borneo). Hunting and environmental pollution are other threats that have caused many unique animals to go on the Endangered species list. Some examples of Endangered or Critically Endangered (almost Extinct) wildlife in Indonesia include:

Southern Indonesian Animals

Admiral Butterfly

Stunningly beautiful wings

Ant

First evolved 100 million years ago!

Antelope

Renew their horns every year!

Armyworm

They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food

Asian Palm Civet

It mainly eats mangos and coffee!

Atlas Moth

Adult atlas moths do not eat - they live off fat they stored as larvae.

Aurochs

Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!

Banana Spider

People spin clothing and fishing nets out of these spiders’ silk.

Banded Palm Civet

Markings give it camouflage!

Barb

There are over 1768 known species!

Barn Owl

Found everywhere around the world!

Bat

Detects prey using echolocation!

Bear

There are 8 different species!

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.

Bee

Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years

Beetle

There are more than 350,000 different species

Binturong

Also known as the Asian Bearcat!

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Black Widow Spider

They typically prey on insects!

Bornean Orangutan

Known to use large leaves as umbrellas!

Borneo Elephant

The smallest species of elephant!

Bumblebee

The most common species of bee!

Butterfly

There are thought to be up 17,500 species!

Camel Cricket

The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.

Cat

May have been domesticated up to 10,000 years ago.

Caterpillar

The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Catfish

There are nearly 3,000 different species!

Centipede

There are about 3,000 documented species!

Chicken

First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Cockatoo

Highly social, smart, and chatty bird.

Cockroach

Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Common Buzzard

The most common raptor in the UK!

Common House Spider

House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.

Common Spotted Cuscus

Has a long, strong prehensile tail!

Cormorant

They can fly 35 mph and dive 150 feet below water.

Cow

There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!

Cow Reticulated Python

Cow reticulated pythons hatch solid white, then develop spots as they mature.

Crab

There are 93 different crab groups

Crab-Eating Macaque

Found throughout the South-East Asian jungles!

Crab Spider

Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings

Crane

Many are critically endangered species!

Cricket

Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together

Crocodile

Have changed little in 200 million years!

Crocodylomorph

Crocodylomorphs include extinct ancient species as well as 26 living species today.

Deer

There are around 40 different species!

Dog

First domesticated in South-East Asia!

Donkey

First domesticated 5,000 years ago!

Dormouse

Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!

Dragonfly

It's larvae are carnivorous!

Duck

Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Dung Beetle

The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight

Eagle

Has exceptional eyesight!

Earless Monitor Lizard

These lizards can practically shut down their metabolism and appear comatose for long periods.

Earthworm

They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs

Earwig

There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Eel

Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

Elephant

Spends around 22 hours a day eating!

Emerald Tree Monitor

They lay their eggs in termite nests!

Equatorial Spitting Cobra

Its hood is actually made of many elongated ribs.

Falcon

The fastest creatures on the planet!

Fire-Bellied Toad

Found across mainland Europe and Asia!

Firefly

The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world

Fishing Cat

Scoops fish out of the water using it's paw!

Flea

Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Squirrel

Can glide up to 90 meters!

Fox

Only 12 species are considered "true foxes"

Frog

There are around 7,000 different species!

Fruit Fly

Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world

Gazelle

Named for the Arabic word for love poems

Gecko

There are thought to be over 2,000 species!

Gerbil

Originally known as the Desert Rat!

Gibbon

Found in dense jungles and tropical forests!

Glass Lizard

Can grow up to 4ft long!

Glowworm

Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!

Goat

Most closely related to the Sheep!

Golden Oriole

Migrates between Europe and Asia!

Goose

There are 29 different species!

Grasshopper

There are 11,000 known species!

Green Bee-Eater

Mainly eats honeybees!

Hamster

Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Hawk Moth Caterpillar

Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.

Hedgehog

Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!

Heron

Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Honey Bee

There are only 8 recognized species!

Hoopoe

Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!

Horse

Has evolved over 50 million years!

Horsefly

Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.

Housefly

The fly has no teeth

Human

Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Huntsman Spider

Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.

Ibis

Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

Jumping Spider

Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies

King Cobra

They are the longest venomous snake in the world.

Kingfisher

Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Kissing Gourami

The kissing gesture that the kissing gourami displays is not a mating gesture

Ladybug

There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Leopard Cat

There are 11 different species!

Liger

The offspring of a lion and tiger parents!

Lizard

There are around 5,000 different species!

Long-Eared Owl

Ear tufts make it look bigger!

Long-Tailed Tit

Often hangs upside down while feeding!

Magpie

They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!

Malayan Civet

Also known as the Oriental Civet!

Masked Palm Civet

Found throughout Asia, India and China!

Mayfly

There are 2,500 known species worldwide!

Mealybug

They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.

Millipede

Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mole

Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

Mongoose

Range in size from just 1 to 3 foot!

Mongrel

Has characteristics of two or more breeds!

Monitor Lizard

Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!

Monkey

There are around 260 known species!

Moorhen

Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Moth

There are 250,000 different species!

Mouse

Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule

The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

Neanderthal

Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!

Nematode

Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long

Newt

Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!

Nightingale

Named more than 1,000 years ago!

Orangutan

Shares 97% of its DNA with humans!

Orb Weaver

Females are about four times the size of males

Otter

There are 13 different species worldwide

Owl

The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees

Parrot

Can live for up to 100 years!

Peacock

Most commonly found on the Indian mainland!

Pheasant

Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pig

Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!

Pika

Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas

Pipe Snake

Some of these snakes flatten their neck and raise their heads to imitate cobras if they’re threatened.

Pond Skater

There are 500 different species!

Porcupine

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Proboscis Monkey

Natively found on the island of Borneo!

Quail

Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Rabbit

There are more than 300 different species!

Rat

Omnivores that eat anything!

Rat Snakes

Rat snakes are constrictors from the Colubridae family of snakes.

Redback Spider

The redback spiders found in New Caledonia differ from other populations in that they don’t practice sexual cannibalism and don’t bite people as much.

Reticulated python

These popular pets can get big enough to kill their owner.

Rhinoceros

It's horns are made from keratin!

River Turtle

Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!

Robin

There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!

Rodents

The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.

Rooster

Will mate with the entire flock!

Salamander

There are more than 700 different species!

Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Sea Eagle

The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner

Seahorse

Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Sheep

Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Skunk

Also known as the Polecat!

Slow Worm

Found widely throughout British gardens!

Smokybrown Cockroach

Has up to 45 eggs per egg case

Snail

There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake

There are around 4,000 known species worldwide

Sparrow

There are 140 different species!

Squirrel

Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Stick Insect

There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stoat

Average adults weigh about 200 grams!

Sun Bear

The smallest species of bear in the world!

Swan

Populations have been affected by pollution!

Tapir

Most closely related to horses and rhinos!

Tarantula Hawk

Tarantula hawks are excellent pollinators, especially for milkweed.

Tarsier

Each eye weighs more than their whole brain!

Termite

Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!

Tiger Beetle

The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world

Tortoise

Can live until they are more than 150 years old!

Tree Frog

Found in warmer jungles and forests!

Turtles

Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.

Vinegaroon

Vinegaroons can spray 19 times before the glands are depleted

Viper

Vipers are one of the most widespread groups of snakes and inhabit most

Vulture

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Wasp

There are around 75,000 recognised species!

Water Buffalo

Has been domesticated for thousands of years!

Water Dragon

Spends most of it's time in the trees!

Weasel

The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!

White Tiger

None have been seen in the wild for 50 years!

Wild Boar

Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!

Wolf

Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!

Wolf Spider

Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.

Woodlouse

This animal can roll up into a ball

Woodpecker

There are 200 different species!

Zebu

There are around 75 different species!

Southern Indonesian Animals List

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AZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts, researchers, farmers, conservationists, writers, editors, and -- of course -- pet owners who have come together to help you better understand the animal kingdom and how we interact.

Animals in Indonesia (Southern Borneo) FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What types of animals live in Borneo?

Lots of different animals live in Borneo including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish.

Are there dangerous animals in Borneo?

Yes. Water monitors, sun bears and saltwater crocodiles are three examples of dangerous animals in Borneo.

What is the most dangerous animal in Borneo?

There’s a lot of dangerous wildlife in Borneo. But, the venomous, Yellow-lipped sea krait snake is one in particular to watch out for.

Are there gorillas in Borneo?

No, but there are orangutans in Borneo. Though gorillas and orangutans are in the same family, they each belong to their own genus.