BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The recent scientific discovery of two new large mammals means
that the country's natural heritage could be far richer than previously
thought.
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ietnam has been identified as one of Asia's most biologically
important countries. Its wide range of habitats - from the coastal
region to the rugged central highlands, and from the flat swampy
deltas of the Mekong and Red River to the temperate mountains
of the northwestern provinces - has given rise to the country's
rich and diverse wildlife, much of which is endemic.
Some 7,000 plant species have been identified out of an estimated
12,000. As many as 2,300 plant species are valuable as food, medicine,
animal fodder, and timber. Much of Vietnam's flora takes on distinctive
local forms, with many endemic species confined to small areas
and occurring in small numbers, thus making them highly susceptible
to extinction.
The wild fauna of Vietnam includes 275 species of mammal, 180
reptiles, 80 amphibious species, 773 bird species, many hundreds
of fishes, and many thousands of invertebrate species. Like the
plants, these faunal groups also show a high degree of local distinctiveness.
Large spectacular animals found in Vietnam include the Asian elephant
(Elephas maximus), tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard
(Panthera pardus), kouprey (Bos sauveli), gaur (Bos
gaurus), and banteng (Bos javanicus), all of which
are endangered.
Important endemic species include the Vietnamese or Vo Quy's pheasant
(Lophura hatinhensis), Edwards' pheasant (Lophura edwardsi)
and Tonkin snubnosed
monkey (Pygathrix avunculus),
while nearendemic species (species found only in Vietnam
and one or two adjacent countries) include the douc langur (Pygathrix
nemaeus), crested gibbon (Hylobates concolor), François
leaf monkey (Presbytis françoisi), Owston's banded
civet (Chrotogale owstoni), pygmy loris (Nycticebus
pygmaeus), and Germain's peacock pheasant (Polyplectron
germaini).
The scientific discovery of the Vu Quang ox or saola (Pseudoryx
nghetinhensis) and the giant muntjac (Megamuntiacus vuquangensis),
in 1992 and 1994 respectively, has boosted the number of mammal
species found in Vietnam. It also means that the country's natural
heritage could be far richer than previously thought.
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