Browse our hundreds of travel and tourism articles about fantastic destinations in the Philippines. Know more about our culture and marvel at the richness and beauty of our country.
by Xtian Mack on November 12, 2012 The giant golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), also known as the golden-capped fruit bat, is a rare megabat and one of the largest bats in the world. The species is endangered and is currently facing the possibility of extinction because of poaching and forest destruction. It is endemic to forests in the Philippines. » Read More
by Xtian Mack on November 12, 2012 The Rice-field Rat, Rattus argentiventer, or dagang bukid, is a species of rat found throughout the Philippines and Southeast Asia. The Rice-field Rat is a medium-sized rat with a grizzed yellow-brown and black pelage. Its belly is gray in the midline with whiter flanks. The tail is uniformly medium brown. They have chisel-like incisors. The Rice-field Rat is between 304-400mm long with a tail length of 140-200mm and a skull length of 37-41 mm. The average weight of Rattus argentiventer is around 97 to 219 grams. Females have 12 mammae. The young have orange-colored tufts in front of each ear. » Read More
by Xtian Mack on November 12, 2012 The Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat (Phloeomys pallidus) is a large species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is only found in the northern and central part of Luzon, the Philippines. It prefers forest and scrub, but also occurs in degraded habitats such as plantations. The color of its relatively long pelage, which also covers the tail, is highly variable, but usually it is mostly very pale grey-brown or white with some dark brown or black patches. Individuals that are almost entirely white also occur. » Read More
by Xtian Mack on November 12, 2012 The Giant Bushy-tailed Cloud Rat or Luzon Bushy-tailed Cloud Rat (Crateromys schadenbergi) is a large, endangered species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is only found in pine and mossy forest at altitudes of 2,000–2,740 meters (6,600–8,990 ft) in the Central Cordillera of Luzon, the Philippines. Relatively little is known about its behavior, but it is nocturnal, mainly arboreal, and feeds on various types of vegetation. » Read More
by Xtian Mack on November 12, 2012 The Panay Cloudrunner (Crateromys heaneyi) is the second-largest cloud rat, a squirrel-like rodent that is found on the island of Panay in the Philippines. The Panay Cloudrunner was discovered by western science in 1987, and was described as a new species in 1996 by Robert Kennedy of the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History and Pedro Gonzales of the National Museum of the Philippines. The late date of discovery was because the lack of forest cover on Panay lead to the island being largely ignored by biologists. » Read More
by Xtian Mack on November 12, 2012 The Large Mindoro Forest Mouse (Apomys gracilirostris) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae, from the genus Apomys. It is found only in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. The Large Mindoro Forest Mouse is a large mouse with large feet, a long tail and an elongated snout which is morphologically unique within its genus. It is covered in soft fur, which is mostly dark brown in color. Its closest relative is thought to be the Luzon Montane Forest Mouse, based on genetic and morphological similarities. » Read More
by Xtian Mack on November 12, 2012 The Luzon Montane Forest Mouse (Apomys datae) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae, from the genus Apomys. It occurs only in the Philippines, where it has been found on the large northern island Luzon (in the Cordillera Central and on the coast of Ilocos Norte). It is most closely related to the Large Mindoro Forest Mouse, which occurs in Mindoro. There may be another related species in the Sierra Madre, but this species is undescribed as of yet. The Luzon Montane Forest Mouse is a relatively large, ground-dwelling rat with a tail that is quite short for its genus. » Read More
by Xtian Mack on November 12, 2012 The Philippine Porcupine (Hystrix pumila), or the Indonesian Porcupine or the Palawan Porcupine, is a species of rodent in the Hystricidae family (Old World porcupines). It is endemic to the island of Palawan in the Philippines. Common Name: Palawan Porcupine, Scientific Name: Hystrix pumila Local Name: Durian/Landak » Read More
by Xtian Mack on November 10, 2012 Maya is the Filipino common name for the Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus. This widely distributed Passeriformes species is just introduced to the country, but has adapted very well to its conditions. It is now arguably the most familiar bird in urban areas in the Philippines. As a result it is confused by most locals with maya pula, or the Black-headed Munia (Lonchura atricapilla), as the former national bird of the Philippines. » Read More
by Xtian Mack on November 10, 2012 The Philippine flying lemur (Cynocephalus volans) is one of two species of flying lemurs, the only two living species in the order Dermoptera. Additionally, it is the only member of the genus Cynocephalus. The Philippine flying lemur is endemic to the Philippines. Its population is concentrated in the Mindanao region and Bohol. » Read More
