Cattle Egret

Scientific classification

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Aves

Order:

Ciconiiformes

Family:

Ardeidae

Genus:

Bubulcus 

Species:

Bubulcus ibis

Description

The cattle egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It looks as a big white bird espcially adorned with buff plumes in the breeding season. It nests in trees or shrubs near water (such as in the wetland, pastures, farmlands, etc.). They like to eat insects that parasitize on the cattle or small prey disturbed by the cattle when they eat grass. Because it lives in colonies, it is commonly seen a group of cattle egrets accompany the cattle.

Megalaima Nuchalis (also called Taiwan Barbet)

Scientific classification

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Aves

Order:

Piciformes

Family:

Megalaimidae

Genus:

Megalaima

Species:

Megalaima nuchalis

Description

The megalaima nuchalis is a bird endemic to the island of Taiwan, so it is also called Taiwan Barbet. Taiwan Barbet is a small bird that is around 20 to 23.5 cm long. The plumage is mostly green except for the head that is patterned with blue, yellow and red. A black stripe goes above the eye. The bill is also black, but the feet are grey-green. Because it is full of colors in its body, it is called “five-colored bird." It nests in the hole of the tree in the breeding season. When it chirps, it sounds like a percussion instrument known as a wooden fish, so it is usally called the "spotted monk of the forest" in Taiwan.

Crested Serpent Eagle

Scientific classification

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Aves

Order:

Accipitriformes

Family:

Accipitridae

Genus:

Spilornis

Species:

Spilornis cheela

Description

The crested serpent eagle is a natural hunter whose habitats are across tropical Asia. It is medium-sized but has a large looking head with long feathers on the back of the head. Its face is bare and yellow while its feet are unfeathered but powerful. With skillful flying and a big loud call, it often gives an impression of ferocious appearances. It feeds on snakes in the forest, but different species of the crested serpent eagle have various foods, ranging from the mammals to the insects.

Grey Treepie

Scientific classification

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Aves

Order:

Passeriformes

Family:

Corvidae

Genus:

Dendrocitta

Species:

Dendrocitta formosae

Description

The grey treepie is found along the foothills of the Himalayas in South Asia and extending into Indo-china, southern Mainland China and also Taiwan. That is why it is also called Asian treepie. It is medium sized, around 30 to 35 centimeters and weights 103.8 grams. It is long-tailed and it is the member of the crow family. The body is grey on the underside becoming whiter towards the vent. The back and scapulars are brownish. The grey treepie nests among dense foliage and in forests. Its voice is harsh and grating, but different species is various.

Light-Vented Bulbul, also called Chinese Bulbul

Scientific classification

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Aves

Order:

Passeriformes

Family:

Pycnonotidae

Genus:

Pycnonotus

Species:

Pycnonotus sinensis

Description

The Light-vented Bulbul can be found in East Asia, such asTaiwan, Hongkong, and Mainland China, so it is also called Chinese bulbul. It is of an endemic species and usually inhabits in lightly wooded areas, suburbs and urban parks and nests espcially in Taiwan acacia and banyan or even in the pots of cultivated trees and flowers. The species of the bulbul varies in length from 13 cm to 29 cm. The plumage is soft, full of colors with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throat or supercilia. It is a highly vocal passerine songbird whose calls are described as nasal or gravelly. The bulbul eats a wide range of different foods, ranging from fruit to small insects.

Ducks

Scientific classification

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Aves

Order:

Anseriformes

Family:

Anatidae

Kingdom:

Animalia

Phylum:

Chordata

Chordata is commonly called duck. It is a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, also including swans and geese that some still do not consider duck because of the taxon. However,it looks smaller than a swan and a goose. It has flat mouth, long neck, webs among the toe. It is good at swimming (a natatorial bird), so it can be found in both fresh water and sea water. In general, it can be divided into family ducks and wild ducks. Ducks play an important role in Chinese culture, so they are commonly mentioned in Chinese poetry. For example,in Su Shi’s “Jiang WanJing’s Evening River Scene” points out ducks are the the prophet telling spring is coming.

Fejervarya limnocharis

Scientific classification

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Amphibia

Order:

Anura

Family:

Dicroglossidae

Genus:

Fejervarya

Species:

Fejervarya limnocharis

Description:

The fejervarya limnocharis is a common nocturnal frog found widely in South Asia. It has long toes on its hind legs, the intermittent raised skin ridges on its dorsal surface, its white belly, and its relatively small size. However, different species still varies in size. It inhabits commonly in the pond or on the field of hills such as rice paddies and forest clearings.

Duttaphrynus melanostictus/Bufo melanostictus

Scientific classification

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Amphibia

Order:

Anura

Family:

Bufonidae

Genus:

Duttaphrynus

Species:

Duttaphrynus melanostictus

Description:

The duttaphrynus melanostictus is commonly called toad. It is widely distributed in South and Southeast Asia.It can be found in a variety of habitats including rural and urban areas. Because it is a nocturnal animal, it can be found in grass lawns or even on the road at night. It is around 20 cm in size, with considerable color variation of the species, but it is easily identified by the presence of a raised ridge behind the eye and the lines of warts along the back and sides. It is poisonous, so most snakes seldom pray on it.

Candidia barbata

Scientific classification

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Actinopterygii

Order:

Cypriniformes

Family:

Cyprinidae

Genus:

Candidia

Species:

Candidia barbata

Description:

The candidia barbata has a moderately large head, eyes, and mouth. Its mouth is protractile; posterior end of upper jaw reaches anterior margin of eye. It is freshwater fish, preferring slow running, clean water with lower temperature. It likes to stay in water spread lower and middle branches, so it is hardly found in trunk stream. The candidia barbata almost eats everything, that is, omnivorous. It is endemic to western portion of Taiwan. Because it is fat, it is popular with angling and aquarium.

Poecilia reticulata

Scientific classification

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Actinopterygii

Order:

Cyprinodontiformes

Family:

Poeciliidae

Genus:

Poecilia

Species:

Poecilia reticulata

Description:

The poecilia reticulata is tiny, around 3 to 5 cm, but it has a large head and broad and horizontal dorsally fin. Its body is elongated, slightly cylindrical and posterior laterally compressed. There are several colorful longitudinal stripes on side of body, but its belly is gradually slivery. It prefers staying to slow running water, such as in ponds and slow river. It also occurs in highly turbid canals and ditches.

Ipomoea nil

Scientific classification

Order:

Solanales

Family:

Convolvulaceae

Genus:

Ipomoea

The ipomoea nil is morning glory known by several common names, including picotee morning glory and ivy morning glory. It is native to most of the tropical world such as Taiwan. It is a climbing annual herb with three-pointed leaves 3 to 8 cm long. The ipomoea nil generally seeds in spring and blooms in autumn and summer. Its flowers are wide and appear in various shades of blue, pink or rose, often with white stripes or edges or blends of colors, so it is a kind of ornamental plant. It is said that the fruit of the ipomoea nil can be used as medicine.

Nelumbo nucifera

Scientific classification

Kingdom:

Plantae

Order:

Proteales

Family:

Nelumbonaceae

Genus:

Nelumbo

Species:

Nelumbo nucifera

The nelumbo nucifera, also known as lotus, is one of two species of aquatic plant in the Nelumbonaceae family . It is native to Tropical Asia. It originates in China, but it becomes the national flower of India and Vietnam. The nelumbo nucifera is an aquatic perennial. It grows in unfavorable circumstances like muds, but its seeds can remain growing for many years. It has the feature of “growing out of mud, the lotus blooms pure and untainted,” so in Chinese culture it is used to symbolize a person who can struggle, overcoming difficulties. One more thing: the whole lotus can be eaten.