Taiwan Today

● Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus): Also known as the white-vented myna, this bird "invaded" Taiwan before 1994. A member of the Starling family, it is common in the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali, with a distinct white streak around its tail. Being the most commonly seen myna around Taiwan, it prefers to make its home in urban areas or farming communities close to sea level. Whether the increasing numbers of this bird in Taiwan will elbow out other grotto nesting species of birds requires further research. ● Little Burmese rat (Rattus exulans): This rodent, also known as the Polynesian rat, is native to Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands. It was first discovered in Taiwan in May 1999, and is most commonly seen on the northern bank of the Mugua River in Jian Township of Hualien County. ● Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis): Entering Taiwan in 1993 or perhaps even earlier, this bird is native to the Indonesian archipelago. It could have the same impact on avian ecosystems here as the Javan Myna, as it will compete with other birds for nesting areas and food. The bird could also be responsible for spreading disease to other bird populations and creating a noise and sanitation problem in places it inhabits. ● The Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei): Also known as the Cuban Brown Anole, this lizard probably entered Taiwan around September of 2000. A native of the Bahaman Islands, Cuba and Jamaica,it is a highly territorial lizard and has been documented preying on Taiwan's indigenous young lizards. ● Gold Skink (Mabuya Multifasciata): Also known as the Many-lined Sun Skink, this lizard is native to Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Burma and other Southeast Asian nations. First discovered in 1992 in southern Taiwan's Cheng Ching Lake area in Kaohsiung and the Chungcheng Lake in Meinung Township, the Gold Skink could be responsible for the sharp reduction of the Chinese Skink and the Formosan Grass Lizard in the plains of southern Taiwan. ● Malaysian Narrowmouth Toad (Kaloula pulchra pulchra): Originally from southern China and Hong Kong, this type of toad was first spotted in 1998 in the Fengshan area of Kaohsiung County, Its harm to the local ecosystem is as yet undecided. ● Opal Fish (Pterygoplichthys sp.): Also known as the Giant pleco; it is native to Central and South America. This fish was first imported to Taiwan for ornamental purposes in the early 1980s. Subsequently, some were release into streams by some people who no longer wanted to raise them. They are widely scattered throughout rivers and streams in central and southern Taiwan, as well as agricultural irrigation channels and lakes, and could have possibly spread to streams and rivers all throughout Taiwan. ● Giant Snakehead (Channa micropeltes): This brightly colored fish was first discovered in the Tsengwen Reservoir in southern Taiwan in 1995. Native to Southeast Asia, this fish is highly predatory and could threaten the diversity of native species of freshwater fish.