Endangered Animals of Thailand

481 Pages·1990·34.676 MB·\481

by  Stephen R. Humphrey (Author)

Endangered Animals of Thailand
Stephen R. Humphrey and James R. Bain
Front Cover: Greater Adjutant Stork, Leptoptilos dubius
(Ciconiidae), ranging from India to Vietnam.
Frontispiece. We dedicate this work to Boonsong Lekagul, here shown looking for
birds in the mangroves at Bang Poo, in May 1980. Professionally a medical doctor,
he also was a big game hunter when a young man. Later he became an active
conservationist, museum curator, author, and patriot. Winner of the J. Paul Getty
Prize for Conservation, he is best known for projecting a conservation ethic into the
national conscience of Thailand. His life shows how much the good work of one
person can influence his country and those around him.
Endangered Animals of Thailand
by
Stephen R. Humphrey and James R. Bain
Boca Raton London New York
CRC Press is an imprint of the
Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
ENDANGERED ANIMALS OF THAILAND
First published 1990 by Sandhill Crane Press, Inc.
Published 2018 by CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
© 1990 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
No claim to original U.S. Government works
ISBN 13: 978-1-877743-07-8 (pbk)
ISBN 13: 978-l-138-47591-5 (hbk)
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:
Humphrey, Stephen R.
Endangered animals in Thailand / by Stephen R. Humphrey
and James R. Bain.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references
ISBN 1-877743-05-4, cloth
ISBN 1-877743-07-0, paper
1. Rare animals--Thailand. 2. Endangered species--Thailand.
3. Wildlife conservation--Thailand. I. Bain, James R. IL Title
QL84.5.T5H86 1989
591.52'9'09593--dc20 89-48431
CIP
Flora & Fauna Handbook No. 6
iv
Acknowledgments
This work was conducted for the United States Fish and Wild-
life Service, Office of International Affairs, and was funded under
the United States Agency for International Development/U.S. Man
and the Biosphere Project. The Florida Museum of Natural History
operated cooperatively with the many scientists of the Species
Survival Commission of the International Union for the Conserva-
tion of Nature and Natural Resources.
We are grateful to F. Wayne King, who while Deputy Chairman
of the Species Survival Commission facilitated communication with
IUCN experts throughout the project; his efforts made that process
operate smoothly. We thank the many scientists of the SSC special-
ist groups, and other scientists active in Thailand to whom they
directed us, who were prompt and cooperative in responding to our
inquiries and contributing recent and unpublished information.
Their efforts added substantial quality to the data base of the re-
port. Many natural resource professionals and interested citizens in
Thailand were extremely helpful in providing information and
perspectives on species' biology, problems, and possible solutions.
We thank those who took time to show us Thai natural resources in
the field—Boonsong Lekagul, Schwan Tanhikorn, Taweesak Trira-
watpong, A.H.V. Sharma, Warren Y. Brockelman, Doyle Damman,
and Warren Evans. Terry Grandstaff of the USAID mission staff in
Bangkok helped us visualize the role of foreign aid in development
projects and gave us specific information on the nature of the Mae
Chaem Watershed project. Flawless administrative support and
clear direction was provided by David A. Ferguson of the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, James W. Corson of the U.S. Man and the
Biosphere Secretariat in Washington, D.C., and Molly Kux, Albert
Prinz, and Jane Stanley of the U.S. Agency for International Devel-
opment. Warren Y. Brockelman, Ardith A. Eudey, Joe T. Marshall,
Jr., Jeffrey A. McNeely, David S. Melville, Edward O. Moll, Illar
Muul, and Philip D. Round enabled us to improve the manuscript
by reviewing its technical content.
v
Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction...............................................................1
Methods.............................................................................................4
Using this Document........................................................................6
Terrestrial Habitats..........................................................................7
Designation of Survival Status.........................................................13
Species Accounts...............................................................................17
Chapter 2. Summary.....................................................................19
Listed Species and Their Habitats....................................................19
Evaluating Potential Impacts of Development Projects...................26
Chapter 3. Invertebrates.............................................................29
Emerita emeritus (Sea Grasshopper, Sand Crab)......................29
Bhutanitis lidderdalei (Bhutan Glory Butterfly)........................31
Sticopthalma godfreyi (Godfrey’s junglequeen butterfly).........32
Chapter 4. Fishes..........................................................................35
Scleropages formosus (Asian Bonytongue)...............................35
Notopterus bland (Featherback)................................................38
Notopterus borneensis (a featherback).......................................40
Macrochirichthys macrochirus (a carp).....................................41
Chela caeruleostigmata (no common name)..............................43
Catlocarpio siamensis (Giant Carp)...........................................44
Puntius sarana (Barb, Olive Carp)............................................47
Balantiocheilos melanopterus (Burnt-tail Carp).......................48
Labeo behri (a carp)....................................................................50
Xenocheilichthys gudgeri (Backwater Fish)..............................51
Hemisilurus heterorhynchus (Catfish).......................................52
Prophagorus nieuhofi (a walking catfish)..................................54
Pangasius sanitwongsei (Sanitwongse’s Catfish)......................55
Pangasianodon gigas (Giant Catfish)........................................57
Datnioides microlepis (Triple Tails)...........................................62
Chapter 5. Amphibians and Reptiles.......................................65
Tylototriton verrucosus (crocodile salamander)........................65
Rana fasciculispina (Spine-breasted Giant Frog)......................68
Platysternon megacephalum (Chinese Big-headed Turtle).......69
Batagur baska (Saltwater or River Terrapin)...........................72
Heosemys (Geomyda) spinosa (Spiny Terrapin)........................76
Testudo (Geochelone) emys (Six-legged Tortoise)......................77
The Sea Turtles-Introductory Comments.......................................80
Lepidochelys olivacea (Pacific Ridley’s Turtle)..........................90
vi
Eretochelys imbricata (Hawksbill Turtle)..................................92
Chelonia mydas (Green Turtle).................................................94
Caretta caretta (Loggerhead Turtle)..........................................97
Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback Turtle)..............................99
Pelochelys bibroni (a giant soft-shelled turtle)..........................101
The Crocodiles-Introductoiy Comments.........................................103
Crocodylus porosus (Saltwater Crocodile).................................105
Crocodylus siamensis (Siamese Freshwater Crocodile)............108
Tomistoma schlegelii (False Gavial)..........................................Ill
Varanus bengalensis (Bengal Monitor)......................................114
Varanus rudicollis (Red-headed Monitor).................................115
Varanus dumerilii (Black Jungle Monitor)...............................117
Python molurus bivittatus (Burmese Python)..........................118
Python curtus (Blood or Short Python).....................................120
Chapter 6. Birds...........................................................................123
Pelecanus philippensis (Spot-hilled Pelican).............................123
Anhinga melanogaster (Darter).................................................126
Fregata andrewsi (Christmas Island Frigate-bird)...................127
Egretta eulophotes (Chinese Egret)............................................130
Ibis leucocephalus (Painted Stork).............................................132
Anastomus oscitans (Open-billed Stork)...................................136
Ciconia nigra (Black Stork).......................................................140
Ciconia (Dissoura) episcopus (White-necked Stork)................141
Xenorhynchus asiaticus (Black-necked Stork)..........................143
Leptoptilos dubius (Greater Adjutant Stork)............................144
Leptoptilosjavanicus (Lesser Adjutant Stork)..........................146
Threskiornis melanocephala (White Ibis)..................................148
Pseudibis papillosa davisoni (Black or White-shouldered
Ibis)............................................................................................149
Pseudibis (Thaumatibis) gigantea (Giant Ibis)..........................151
Cairina scutulata (White-winged Wood Duck).........................153
Sarkidiornis melanotos (Comb Duck).......................................155
Torgos calvus (King vulture).....................................................158
Gyps indicus (Long-billed vulture)............................................159
Gyps bengalensis (White-backed vulture).................................160
Ictinaetus malayensis (Black eagle)............................................162
Spizaetus nanus (Wallace’s hawk eagle)....................................163
Falco peregrinus (Peregrine Falcon, Duck Hawk)....................164
Rollulus roulroul (Roulroul).....................................................166
vu
Lophura leucomelana (Kalij Pheasant)......................................168
Lophura nycthemera (Silver Pheasant)......................................171
Lophura ignita (Crested Fireback Pheasant).............................173
Lophura diardi (Siamese Fireback Pheasant)............................175
Syrmaticus humiae (Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant).............................177
Polyplectron bicalcaratum (Burmese Gray Peacock
Pheasant)....................................................................................179
Polyplectron malacense (Malay Brown Peacock Pheasant).......181
Argusianus argus (Great Argus Pheasant)...............................182
Pavo muticus (Green Peafowl)...................................................184
Grus antigone sharpii (Nok Karien, Eastern Sarus Crane)......188
Heliopais personata (Masked finfoot)........................................190
Tringa guttifer (Spotted Greenshank).......................................192
Limnodromus semipalmatus (Asian Dowitcher, Snipebilled
Godwit).......................................................................................194
Sterna zimmermanni (Chinese Crested Tern)...........................196
Treron seimundi (Yellow-vented Green Pigeon)........................198
Ducula bicolor (Pied Imperial Pigeon).......................................199
Columba pulchricollis (Ashy Wood Pigeon)..............................200
Columba punicea (Pale-capped Pigeon).....................................201
Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica (Nicobar Pigeon)......................203
The Hornbills-Introductory Comments...........................................205
Berenicornis comatus (White-crested Hornbill)........................206
Ptilolaemus tickelli (Brown or Tickell’s Hornbill).....................208
Anorrhinus galeritus (Bushy-crested Hornbill).........................210
Aceros nipalensis (Rufous-necked Hornbill).............................212
Rhyticeros leucocephalus (Wrinkled hornbill)...........................214
Buceros rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Hornbill)................................215
Buceros bicornis bicornis (Great Hornbill)...............................217
Buceros bicornis homrai (Great Hornbill).................................217
Rhinoplax vigil (Helmeted Hornbill).........................................219
Megalaima rafflesii (Many-colored barbet)...............................221
Mulleripicus pulverulentus (Great Slaty Woodpecker)..............222
Dryocopus javensis (White-bellied Woodpecker).......................224
Pitta gurneyi (Gurney’s Pitta)...................................................225
Pseudochelidon sirintarae (White-eyed River Martin)..............228
Eupetes macrocerus (Rail-babbler).............................................231
Pachycephala cinerea (Mangrove Whistler)...............................234
Graminicola bengalensis (Large Grass Warbler).......................232
vm
Chapter 7. Mammals....................................................................237
Craseonycteris thonglongyai (Kitti’s Hog-nosed Bat)................237
Macaca nemestrina (Pig-tailed Macaque)..................................239
Macaca assamensis (Assamese Macaque).................................242
Macaca arctoides (Stump-tailed Macaque)................................243
Macaca mulatto (Rhesus Macaque)...........................................246
Macaca fascicularis (Long-tailed Macaque)..............................249
Presbytis melalophos (Banded Langur).....................................252
Presbytis obscura (Dusky or Spectacled Langur).......................255
Presbytis cristata (Silvered Langur)...........................................256
Presbytis phayrei (Phayre’s Langur)..........................................258
The Gibbons-Introductory Comments......................................259
Hylobates lar (White-handed Gibbon).......................................260
Hylobates pileatus (Pileated Gibbon).........................................262
Hylobates agilis (Agile Gibbon)..................................................264
The Pangolins-Introductory Comments...................................266
Manis javanica (Malayan Pangolin)...........................................267
Manis pentadactyla (Chinese Pangolin).....................................269
The Squirrels—Introductory Comments...........................................271
Ratufa affinis (Cream-colored Giant Squirrel).........................272
Ratufa bicolor (Black Giant Squirrel)........................................274
Petaurista elegans (Lesser Giant Flying Squirrel).....................278
Aeromys tephromelas (Large Black Flying Squirrel).................281
Petinomys setosus (White-bellied Flying Squirrel)....................282
Belomys pearsoni (Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel)......................284
Pteromyscus pulverulentus (Smoky Flying Squirrel)................286
Eothenomys melanogaster (Pere David’s Vole)..........................287
Hapalomys longicaudatus (Marmoset Rat)...............................288
Ratios sikkimensis remotus (Island Rat)...................................290
Rattus neilli (Neill’s Rat)...........................................................292
Rattus hinpoon (Limestone Rat)................................................293
The Cetaceans-Introductory Comments..........................................294
Sotalia plumbea (Plumbeous Dolphin)......................................295
Sotalia bomeensis (Indonesian White Dolphin)........................295
Sotalia chinensis (Chinese White Dolphin)..............................295
Steno bredanensis (Rough-toothed Dolphin)............................296
Stenella malayana (Malay Dolphin)...........................................296
Delphinus delphis (Common Dolphin)......................................297
Tursiops aduncus (Eastern Bottle-nosed Dolphin)....................297
IX