Wildlife of
Hainan Sheng

Evergreen to semi-evergreen tropical and monsoon rainforests in central and southwest mountains (Jianfengling, Bawangling), with multi-layer canopies, rich epiphytes, and high vertebrate diversity. Critically endangered Hainan gibbon lives in old-growth Bawangling forest.

Patchy but significant in mountainous protected areas; concentrated in the central/southwest interior.

Tropical seasonal (monsoon) forests and semi-deciduous communities on lower slopes and leeward areas, often forming a matrix around core rainforest blocks; more drought-tolerant broadleaf species and stronger seasonal leaf drop.

Widespread in lower-elevation foothills and drier parts of the island; much is fragmented or secondary.

Savanna-like grassland/wooded grassland occurs mainly as a disturbance-driven or edaphic/degraded state (fire, grazing, repeated clearing), with scattered trees/shrubs over grass-dominated groundcover.

Localized and discontinuous; typically small patches on degraded hillsides and coastal/lowland areas.

Short, steep rivers and headwater streams draining the central mountains to coastal plains, plus reservoirs and ponds used for irrigation and aquaculture; high importance for amphibians, riparian forests, and connectivity between uplands and coasts.

Island-wide along river networks and reservoirs; most catchments flow radially from the central highlands.

Mangrove swamps, estuarine mudflats, coastal lagoons, river-mouth marshes, and aquaculture-associated wetlands supporting migratory birds and nursery habitat for fish/crustaceans; sensitive to reclamation and pollution.

Patchy along low-lying coasts, river mouths, and bays; highest around sheltered shorelines and estuaries.

South China Sea coastal waters including fringing/patch reefs, seagrass beds, sandy and muddy seabeds, and productive nearshore fisheries; includes bays and straits around Hainan with strong monsoon-driven seasonality.

Surrounds the entire island; nearshore habitats concentrated on sheltered coasts and around reef/seagrass areas.

Old-growth and mature secondary rainforest in Jianfengling and Bawangling; Bawangling rainforest is the critical remaining habitat for the Hainan gibbon, while other rainforest blocks support many endemic and subtropical-tropical transition species.

Broadleaf evergreen and monsoon seasonal forests across interior hills; includes extensive secondary regrowth and mixed native stands around protected cores.

Semi-deciduous seasonal forest elements in drier lowlands/foothills where monsoon seasonality is stronger; often intergrades with evergreen forest and shrubland after disturbance.

Pine-dominated stands on ridges and higher slopes (often secondary or plantation-influenced), forming a distinct belt in some upland areas.

Open grasslands on degraded hillsides and coastal flats, frequently maintained by fire, grazing, or repeated clearing; important for certain raptors and open-country species.

Thickets and scrub on disturbed slopes, abandoned farmland, and coastal fringes; common transitional habitat in regenerating landscapes.

Central massif (e.g., Wuzhi Shan) with steep elevational gradients, cloud-prone ridges, and high habitat turnover from lowland seasonal forest to upland forest mosaics.

Radial river systems (short, flashy tropical rivers) with riparian corridors linking mountains to estuaries; subject to sediment pulses during monsoon rains.

Reservoirs and impoundments used for water supply/irrigation; provide freshwater fish habitat and waterbird stopovers but can alter downstream flows.

Aquaculture ponds and farm ponds common on coastal plains; can increase wetland area but often reduce natural habitat quality via nutrient loading.

Marshy river mouths, lagoons, and floodplain patches; important for migratory shorebirds and as fish nursery areas when connected to estuaries.

Low-lying swampy areas, including brackish swamp margins near mangroves and freshwater swamp fragments inland where drainage is poor.

Herbaceous marshes around estuaries and pond/reservoir edges; seasonally inundated during monsoon peaks.

Mangrove forests in sheltered bays and estuaries (mudflats and tidal creeks), providing storm buffering and nursery habitat for coastal fisheries.

Turbid river-mouth estuaries with strong salinity gradients, mudflats, and tidal channels; key for juvenile fish, crabs, and migratory birds.

Mixed coastline of bays, headlands, dunes, and reclaimed lowlands; intense human use (ports, tourism, aquaculture) alongside protected segments.

Sandy beaches and dune-backed shores, including major tourist coastlines; ecologically important as nesting/foraging zones where disturbance is managed.

Rocky headlands and wave-exposed shores supporting intertidal invertebrate communities and tidepool habitats.

Fringing and patch reefs in clearer-water areas supporting reef fish and invertebrates; vulnerable to warming, sedimentation, and coastal development.

Pelagic waters surrounding Hainan in the South China Sea, used by migratory fishes and marine mammals; influenced by monsoon winds and regional currents.

Off-shelf and deeper basins beyond nearshore waters in the broader South China Sea region adjacent to Hainan; biodiversity less documented but ecologically significant.

Sandy and muddy continental-shelf seabeds (including seagrass-capable substrates in suitable bays) that support benthic fisheries and infaunal communities.

Lowland croplands (e.g., rice and vegetables) concentrated on coastal plains and river valleys; major driver of habitat fragmentation.

Extensive rubber and tropical fruit plantations replacing native lowland forest; structurally simpler habitat with reduced native biodiversity compared to natural forests.

Urban/coastal built-up areas (e.g., Haikou, Sanya) with high development pressure on beaches, wetlands, and nearshore waters.