The Palawan Peacock Pheasant

 

      This particular species of pheasant (Polyplectron emphanum) that is endemic to the Palawan Island in the Philippines is regarded as the most beautiful of the peafowl species. A long, metallic blue crest with white lines above and below the eye best characterizes the males, which are attractively colored to attract a mate. Palawan peafowl, locally called “andikan,” are shy but adapt well and breed in confinement. Unfortunately they are already endangered because of declining habitat and the continuing bird trading and hunting for food. An estimated decreasing population of 1,000 has been recorded at present.

                               The male is the handsomest and most peacock -like member of the genus Polyprectron. It has an erectile crest, a white stripe over the eyes and highly iridescent metallic green and black plumage. The tail feathers are decorated with large blue-green ocelli, which may be spread fanlike in courtship displays. The female is smaller than the male. It has a dark brown plumage with a short crest and is whitish on the throat, cheeks and eyebrows. Endemic to the Philippines, the Palawan Peacock-Pheasant is found in the humid forests of Palawan Island in the southern part of the Philippine archipelago. The female usually lays up to two eggs.

The Palawan Peacock-Pheasant, with its unique male plumage and distant range, represents a basal (Early? Pliocene, c.5-4 mya offshoot of the genus Polyplectron (Kimball et al. 2001).Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size and limited range as well as hunting and capture for trade, the Palawan Peacock-Pheasant is classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red LIst of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES.

The Luzon Bleeding Heart Dove

The Luzon Bleeding Heart Dove is naturally found in Luzon, this species of dove (Gallicolumba luzonica) is distinct for its “bleeding” spot in the middle of its breast (that looks like it has been shot on its breast). Bleeding-hearts, locally called “puñalada,” are almost completely terrestrial, seldom going even into the low bushes. However, they do not build their nests on the ground. Just like all kinds of doves and pigeons they regurgitate crop milk to be fed to their chicks. one of a number of species of ground dove in the genus Gallicolumba that are called "bleeding-hearts". They get this name from a splash of vivid red color at the centre of their white breasts. The Luzon Bleeding-heart is the species in which this feature is most pronounced, and on first sight it is hard to believe that the bird has not recently been wounded. This is also partially due to a reddish hue extending down the belly, providing the illusion of blood having run down the bird's front.

On its upper surfaces, the Luzon Bleeding-heart is slate grey in colour, but because it is iridescent, it can appear to be purple, royal blue, or bottle-green, and the apparent colour varies with lighting conditions. The belly and under wing areas are buff or chestnut. As in most pigeons, there is little sexual dimorphism; males tend to be larger and have a more pronounced red patch, and some authorities claim that the female has a purplish iris, though others dispute this. Body shape is typical of the genus, with a round body, a short tail and long legs.

The species is endemic to the central and southern parts of the large island of Luzon, and the neighbouring small Polilio Islands, in the Philippines. It lives in primary or secondary forest, and can be found at altitudes varying from sea level up to 1400 metres. They eat seeds, berries and grubs. They are shy and secretive, and very quiet, and rarely leave the ground except when nesting. Unlike the other bleeding-hearts, they usually lay two eggs  in each clutch.

Although not formally regarded as endangered, the Luzon Bleeding-heart is under some threat, since it is commonly trapped. Local people use it for meat, but its striking appearance means that there is also a market for it in the pet trade. A captive breeding project has been started in Australia.

The Luzon Bleeding-heart was featured on a Philippine 2-peso postage stamp in 1994.

Philippine Snake

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The Northern Philippine Cobra (Naja Philippinensis) is a stocky, very toxic snake native to the Philippines. They are found on the Luzon, Mindoro, Catunduanes and Masbate islands. Its average length is 1,70 m. Populations from Mindoro Island are known to be up to 2 Meter in length (Lutz, M., 2006). Its color is light to medium brown while the young cobra's color is a darker brown. They have twenty three to twenty scale rows around the neck and twenty one just above the middle part of the body. They prey upon mice, frogs and small mammals. The female lays eggs in clutches of ten to twenty with an incubation time of sixty to seventy days.

The venomis a neurotoxin which affects cardiac and respiratory function and can cause neurotoxicity and respiratory paralysis and death in thirty minutes. The bite causes only minimal tissue damage. The Philippine Cobra is capable of spitting their venom up to three meters.

The Philippine Cobra is called "ulupong" in Tagalog.

The average length of this species is 1,70 m. Populations from Mindoro Island are known to be up to 2 metres in length (Lutz, M., 2006). Its color is light to medium brown while the young cobra's color is a darker brown. They have 23-27 scale rows around the neck and 21 just above the middle part of the body. Fairly stockily  built. Pattern: adults uniformly light or medium brown, occasionally some lighter variegations; juveniles dark brown, with lighter variegations, sometimes a dark band behind the throat. Scalation: 23-27 (usually 25) scale rows around neck, 21 (rarely 23) just ahead of mid-body; 182-193 ventrals, 36-49 subcaudals, basal pairs sometimes undivided..