Preliminary fauna surveys in Phong Nha Ke Bang have documented a total of 735 vertebrate species,including 127 threatened species,91 of them listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book 18 species listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Preliminary faunal surveys have documented a total of 735 vertebrate species,including 127 threatened species,91 of them listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book 18 species listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In particular among of the total of 41 animal endemic species 30 species are endemic to Vietnam and 40 species are endemic to Annamite Mountain Range (Vietnam and Laos).

Vietnam has 224 mammal species within territory,132 mammal species have been recorded in Phong Nha –Ke Bang,of which 46 species listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book and 34 species listed in the IUCN Red List. In addition 9 mammal species are endemic to the Annamite Range,of which 2 species are endemic to Vietnam. Notable among mammal species are Hatinh Langur Trachypithecus laotum hatinhensis (EN),Pygathrix nemaeus (EN),White-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus leucogenys siki,Tiger Panthera tigris (EN),Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis (CR),Particoloured Flying Squirrel Hylopetes alboniger (EN),and Dhole Cuon alpinus (EN).

Phong Nha and Ke Bang have been identified by BirdLife International (2005) as two of more than sixty Important Bird Area of Vietnam.. 338 species of birds have been recorded in the Park while Vietnam has 828 bird species. 20 species among them are listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam and 17 species listed in the IUCN Red List. In particular 7 bird species are endemic to the Annamite Mountain Range and 4 species are endemic to Vietnam. The Sooty Babbler Stachyris herberti occurs only in the karst area of the Phong Nha –Ke Bang NP and in an adjacent karst area in Laos. Notable recorded bird species are Vietnamese Pheasant Lophura hatinhensis (EN),Edward’s Pheasant Lophura edwardsi (EN),and Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera (EN).

Phong Nha –Ke Bang is home of 96 reptile species and 45 amphibian species while 458 reptile species and 162 amphibian species recorded for Vietnam. 22 reptile and amphibian species which occur in Phong Nha-Ke Bang are listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam and 18 species are listed in the IUCN Red List. Seven reptile species and 2 amphibian species are endemic to Vietnam. In the recent five years (from 2000 to 2005) 6u  reptiles have been described as new species to science:Triceratolepidophis sieversorum Ziegler et al. 2000,Cyrtodactylus phongnhakebangensis Ziegler et al. 2002,Gekko scientiadventura Rosler et al. 2004,Tropidophorus noggei,Camalaria thanhi Ziegler 2005,Trimeresurus truongsonensis Ziegler 2004,and 1 amphibian species:Rana megatymparum. These seven species are restricted range species to Phong Nha Ke Bang NP and most probably to a small area in Laos. Notable species among the reptiles are Cuora galbinifrons (CR),Cuora trifasciata (CR),Mauremys mutica (EN),Pyxidea mouhotii (EN),Ocadia sinensis (EN),Indotestudo elongata (EN),Palea steindachneri (EN).

The specific characteristics of rivers and stream in Phong Nha- Ke Bang cause the particular fish fauna. One hundred twenty four fish species have been recorded in the Park,of which 4 of them are listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam and 5 species are listed in the IUCN Red List. Thirteen fish species are restricted range species to the Phong Nha –Ke Bang NP,12 of them are recently described as new species (Thai Tu,2006).

Initiative surveys have recorded 369 insect species,of which 270 species of butterflies about one fifth of the number of butterflies in Vietnam

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The current vascular plant list for the  Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park contains 116 threatened species,of which 62 species are listed in Vietnam Red Data Book and 79 species listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2006.

Based on the results of surveys,a list of vascular plants was established,with 193 families,906 genera and 2,651 vascular plant species. The current vascular plant list for the National Park contains 116 threatened species,of which 62 species are listed in Vietnam Red Data Book and 79 species listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2006. In particular the Park is home of 419 plant species endemic to Vietnam,of which 28 orchid species are endemic to Vietnam and a narrow endemic genus (Oligoceras eberhardtii) to the Park. Otherwise Cacelodrus rupetris,a large coniferous tree,is endemic species to limestone areas of Vietnam. This species are mono-dominant trees in the typical forest type in the World. Many threatened plant species with very high values occur in the Park such as Dipterocarpus kerrii (CR),Dipterocarpus turbinatus (CR),Dipterocarpus hasseltii (CR),Hopea chinensis (CR),Hopea hainanensis (CR),Hopea mollissima (CR),Hopea reticulata (CR),Hopea siamensis (CR),Vatica diospyroides (CR),Dalbergia bariaensis (EN),Dalbergia mammosa (EN),Erythrophleum fordii (EN),Hopea pierrei (EN),Vatica cinerea (EN).

The abundance of geologies and topographies in Phong Nha –Ke Bang National Park cause the diversity of forest types.

Fifteen forest types and sub-types have been identifies in the Park. The forest cover is a high level of 93.57% of the total area of the Park,of which 83.74% are primary forests. Primary forest in Phong Nha –Ke Bang NP is the highest percentage in Protected Areas of Vietnam. There are significant forest types of which limestone forest is the largest area in limestone areas of Vietnam. In particular 22,500 ha of limestone forest above 700m asl. is national and global outstanding values. In addition more than one thousand hectares of mono-dominant tree Cacelodrus rupetris,endemic species to limestone of Vietnam,with Paphiodendron spp. on karst under Cacelodrus rupetris canopy is a unique forest type in the world.

The limestone forest ecosystem at Phong Nha-Ke Bang supports a high diversity of plant and animal species.

The limestone forest ecosystem at Phong Nha-Ke Bang supports a high diversity of plant and animal species. Of perhaps the greatest conservation significance are several species found at the site that are endemic to this part of central Vietnam and Laos. These include Sooty Babbler Stachyris herbeti, a globally near-threatened species that went unrecorded between its discovery in Laos in the 1920s and its rediscovery at the site in 1994. Phong Nha-Ke Bang also supports populations of two endemic primates, Annamese Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus hatinhensis, and an all-black form referred to as Black Leaf Monkey T. ebenus.

Scientists recorded a number of globally threatened mammals in the area, including Owston’s Civet Hemigalus owstoni and Southern Serow Naemorhedus sumatraensis. In addition, the globally endangered Red-shanked Douc Pygathrix nemaeus has been recorded at the site by a number of authors. Also, the recently described Annamite Striped Rabbit Nesolagus timminsi was recorded at Phong Nha-Ke Bang in 1998.

With regard to the avifauna of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, scientists recorded several globally threatened and near-threatened species, including Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata, Chestnut-necklaced Partridge Arborophila charltonii, Red-collared Woodpecker Picus rabieri and Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler Jabouilleia danjoui. On the basis of the occurrence of four restricted-range bird species, Phong Nha-Ke Bang lies within the Annamese Lowlands Endemic Bird Area. Researchers consider Phong Nha-Ke Bang to be of particular importance for bird conservation, because the populations of species of conservation concern are not at immediate risk of extirpation or major population declines. Both Phong Nha and the adjacent Ke Bang limestone area (including the portion in Minh Hoa district, outside of the national park) qualify as Important Bird

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