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Taiwan
represents three major climatic zones and its diverse topography
have endowed the island with a wide range of flora and fauna.
Some 60 species of mammals, around 500 species of birds (40 percent
of which are resident), 90 species of reptiles, 30 amphibian
species, nearly 150 species of freshwater fish, and 17,600 named
insect species, (including 400 butterfly species), are known to
exist in the Taiwan area. Monkeys, deer, wild boars, snakes,
panthers, wildcats and bears are some of the types of animal life in
Taiwan. The
island is also famous for the richness and diversity of its plant
world, with some 4,021 species classified to date. The mountains are
home to coniferous and deciduous trees at the elevation of
2000-3000m (6,500 - 10,000 ft), above this elevation only coniferous
trees are found, particularly the cypress. Many tropical and
subtropical forests are found at the lower elevations (sea level to
2000 m). The
Formosan Landlocked Salmon which inhabits the cold streams in the
high mountains is a result of the alternating effect of the
geological changes that occurred during the Ice Age. The Wulai
rhododendron is one of the plants peculiar to Taiwan. |
