Hong Kong's Strictly Endemic Animal Species

Hong Kong is synonymous with towering skyscrapers; with around 600 buildings standing 150 metres (492 feet) or taller, the city well deserves its reputation. Yet, paradoxically, only 25% of the territory’s land area is developed, meaning that about 75% of Hong Kong consists of natural landscapes. Better still, 40% of Hong Kong’s land area—representing 448.8 square kilometres (172 square miles)—is designated as country parks and special areas.

Regardless of the relatively small area left to wildlife, Hong Kong manages to record between 20 and 25 animal species that are strictly endemic to the region. While "endemic" generally describes a broader geographic area, "strictly endemic" denotes a highly confined and restricted locality. In the case of these 20 to 25 species, none have ever been observed outside of Hong Kong.

The overwhelming majority of these strictly endemic species are invertebrates—mainly insects and crustaceans. However, three vertebrates are uniquely native to Hong Kong: one snake (Indotyphlops lazelli), one gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus hongkongensis), and one lizard (Dibamus bogadeki).

While it may seem exhilarating that these species exist only in Hong Kong, it also leaves them extremely vulnerable. Because their entire global populations are concentrated in such small areas, they are highly sensitive to threats like habitat fragmentation, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species, such as the American bullfrog or exotic turtles.