World · Philippines Bureau
Endangered Mindanao caecilian documented in Mount Apo park
Environment officials have confirmed the presence of a critically threatened amphibian species at a biodiversity monitoring site in Mount Apo Natural Park. The rare Mindanao caecilian represents a significant discovery for conservation efforts in the protected area.
LSN Philippines ·
KORONADAL CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources documented the Mindanao caecilian (Ichthyophis mindanaoensis) at a monitoring station within Mount Apo Natural Park in Cotabato province, marking an important sighting for the endangered species.
The amphibian, identified by environmental researcher Marisol Pedregosa during biodiversity surveys in Region 12, had been largely undocumented in recent years. The caecilian, a limbless amphibian resembling a worm or snake, represents one of the Philippines' most threatened and least-known creatures.
The Mount Apo Natural Park discovery underscores the ecological value of the protected area, situated on the island of Mindanao. Conservation officials said the finding contributes valuable data to ongoing biodiversity assessments in the region.
The DENR continues monitoring efforts at Mount Apo to track wildlife populations and assess ecosystem health. The natural park remains a critical habitat for numerous endemic and threatened species found nowhere else in the world.
Photo: Mount Apo, Mindanao, July 2015. Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).