Asian Animals Indonesia and Japan

Wildlife of Indonesia

The Asian country of Indonesia has diverse and unusual wildlife unlike anywhere else in the world, There are lush rainforests, dry volcanic terrain, alpine forests, coastal forests, and wetlands. The country also consists of thousands of islands among them the largest Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and western New Guinea.

Official National Animal

The Komodo dragon is the largest species of lizard in the world.

Native Animals

Borneo orangutans are a species of great apes that are endemic to the island of Borneo and are the only great ape species native to Asia.

North Sulawesi babirusas are a species of pig-like mammals native to the island of Sulawesi.

Bali tigers are tigers that inhabit the Sunda Island.

Borneo elephants are a sub-species of Asian elephants native to the northeastern part of Borneo.

Lowland anoas are a species of buffalo endemic to Sulawesi.

Javan slow loris are a species native to the western and central areas of the island of Java.

Pig-tailed langurs are a species of Old World monkey endemic to the small islands off the coast of Sumatra.

Sunda clouded leopards are a medium-sized species of wild cats that are native to the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Binturongs are bearcats native to southern and southeastern Asia.

Borneo rhinoceroses are a sub-species of the Sumatran rhinoceroses.

Western long-beaked echidnas are one of four species of living echidnas native to Australia and the Indonesian islands.

Goodfellow’s tree-kangaroos are a species native to Indonesia and New Guinea.

Sunda flying lemurs are a species of colugo native to southeastern Asia.

Siamangs are a species of arboreal gibbons that are native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Sulawesi flying foxes are a species of megabats endemic to Indonesia.

Birds

Maleos are a large species of megapodes, chicken-like birds, endemic to the islands of Sulawesi and Buton.

Marine Animals

Saltwater crocodiles are adapted to living in saltwater. These are Indo-Pacific crocodiles.

Dugongs are a peculiar species of marine mammals that make their homes across the Indo-West Pacific regions.

Wildlife of Japan

Japan or Nippon as known to native residents offers realms of biodiversity and natural beauty, The country holds the title of The Land of the Rising Sun. Japan consists of more than 7,000 large and small islands along the Pacific Rim. Each of the islands has its own unique environment and wildlife.

Official National Bird

Japanese pheasant or green pheasant

Native Animals

Ryukyu flying foxes are classified as megabats living in forests and swamp areas.

Japanese macaques or snow monkeys are distinctive, endemic animals. In Japan, they mostly live on the islands of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku.

Tanukis have been featured in Japanese folklore. Japan has many statues of them. These animals can be found in the Koenji district of Tokyo and in the Hiroshima Prefecture.

Japan has a range of different types of bears and they’re the largest land animals in Japan. The most common species are Asian black bears and Ussuri brown bears living in mountain ranges. You can see them at the Daisetsuzan National Park.

Yamaneko wildcats are related to a subspecies of leopards.

Japanese serows are a species that is the national symbol of Japan and associated with good luck. A law was passed in 1995 to make serows a protected species and a national monument.

Birds

Blakiston’s fish owls are one of the largest species of owls in the world. The owls hold a special place in Japanese culture. They make their home on the Shiretoko Peninsula.

Red-crowned cranes are distinguishable by the bright red spots on top of their head. They are a notable icon in Japanese wildlife.

Marine Animals

Goblin sharks are frightening-looking sea creatures. They are a rare species that has remained unchanged for more than 100 million years.

Giant salamanders are known in Japan as Osanshouo or “giant pepper fish”. These species live in cool, clear water streams.

Giant spider crabs are invertebrates that have a scary appearance. They live in depths of up to 50 and 300 meters.