Wildlife of
Taiwan Sheng

Humid lowland-to-lower-montane evergreen forests in the warmest, wettest parts of southern and southeastern Taiwan and some offshore islets; includes rainforest-like evergreen broadleaf forests and very wet valley forests.

Localized; strongest expression in southern/southeastern lowlands and foothills and windward valleys (small share of total land area).

Seasonally drier tropical/subtropical forests and thorny scrub-forest mosaics in the rain-shadowed far south (e.g., Hengchun Peninsula) where winter monsoon dryness is more pronounced.

Limited; mainly far-southern lowlands/peninsula and leeward coastal pockets.

Mid- to high-elevation broadleaf and mixed forests (including montane evergreen broadleaf, mixed broadleaf-conifer) shaped by cooler temperatures and frequent cloud immersion.

Widespread across mid-elevations of the Central Mountain Range; a major component of upland land cover.

Very wet montane cloud-forest belts with persistent fog/drizzle and high epiphyte biomass; occurs where moist air masses are forced upslope (notably windward slopes).

Patchy but important on windward mountain flanks (especially north/east) and along high-rainfall montane corridors.

High-elevation zones above the treeline with alpine shrublands, dwarf bamboo, scree, and seasonal snow/frost; includes alpine meadows on ridges and near peaks.

Small but distinct; highest parts of the Central Mountain Range (e.g., Yushan and other high peaks).

Short, steep rivers with flashy typhoon-driven flows; montane streams, reservoirs, and natural lakes supporting endemic and migratory freshwater biota.

Island-wide in river networks; standing freshwater habitats are limited and localized.

Coastal lagoons, tidal flats, river-mouth wetlands, and inland marshes/ponds used by migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway; includes mangrove-fringed estuaries in warmer lowlands.

Fragmented and mostly coastal/estuarine; small total area but high ecological importance.

Diverse coastal and offshore systems influenced by monsoons and the Kuroshio Current; includes coral reefs in the south and around offshore islands, rocky shores, sandy beaches, and deep pelagic waters.

Extensive around all coasts and offshore waters; ecological conditions vary strongly by coast (east vs west; north vs south).

Dominant natural cover across mountains; evergreen broadleaf forests in low-to-mid elevations and mixed forests upslope.

Rainforest-like evergreen broadleaf forests in humid southern/southeastern lowlands and wet valleys, with high liana/epiphyte presence in some areas.

Cooler montane belts include deciduous components (seasonal leaf drop) mixed with evergreen broadleaf and conifers, especially in transitional elevations.

High-elevation conifer forests (e.g., cypress/fir/hemlock-type assemblages) on cooler slopes and ridges of the Central Mountain Range.

Coastal grasslands and disturbed lowland grasslands; also high-elevation grass/shrub mosaics on windswept ridges.

Alpine dwarf shrub and bamboo scrub above/near treeline; also dry scrub/secondary shrublands in leeward southern areas and disturbed foothills.

Steep, landslide-prone terrain with strong elevational zonation; major ridge-and-gorge systems define many ecological gradients.

Sea cliffs on the east coast and inland gorges/river-cut cliffs; important for nesting birds and specialized cliff flora.

Limestone and coastal caves (notably in southern Taiwan) supporting bats and specialized cave invertebrates; also sea caves along rugged coasts.

Limited natural lakes and notable larger lake/reservoir systems (e.g., Sun Moon Lake region) with surrounding forested catchments.

Dense network of short, steep rivers (e.g., Tamsui, Zhuoshui, Gaoping systems) with high sediment loads after typhoons; key riparian corridors.

Lowland ponds and aquaculture ponds, some functioning as surrogate wetlands for waterbirds where natural wetlands are scarce.

Migratory-bird hotspots on the west coast (tidal flats, lagoons) and scattered inland wetlands; high conservation value but often fragmented.

Fresh to brackish marshes at river mouths and coastal lowlands, often interspersed with aquaculture and farmland.

Mangrove stands in suitable warm, sheltered estuaries and lagoons (more prevalent on the west/southwest coasts).

Nutrient-rich river mouths with brackish gradients (e.g., northern and western estuaries) supporting fisheries nurseries and bird habitat.

Highly varied coastline: sandy barrier/lagoon systems on the west, rugged rocky/tectonic coasts on the east, and coral-fringed shores in the south.

Sandy beaches and dune remnants, especially on the west coast; important for coastal processes and some nesting/foraging fauna.

Wave-exposed rocky intertidal habitats common on the east and parts of the north; high intertidal biodiversity.

Fringing and patch reefs in the south (Kenting) and around offshore islands (e.g., Green Island, Orchid Island), influenced by warm currents.

Pelagic waters around Taiwan shaped by monsoons and the Kuroshio; important for migratory fish and marine megafauna movement corridors.

Rapid drop-offs off the east coast into deep basins and trenches; supports deep pelagic and benthic communities.

Mixed substrates: sandy/muddy shelves (notably west) and rocky slopes (notably east), supporting demersal fisheries and benthic habitats.

Dense urban development concentrated in western lowlands and major basins (e.g., Taipei region), with associated habitat fragmentation.

Expanding peri-urban mosaics around western cities, often interfacing with foothill forests and riparian corridors.

Intensive lowland agriculture (rice, fruit, vegetables) and aquaculture on western plains; montane farming in some valleys.

Managed plantation landscapes (e.g., tea-growing areas and other commercial plantings), often in foothills and upland slopes.