Between Sundaland and Wallacea Quiz

Answer: Sumatra and Borneo

Named after British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, the Wallace Line is a faunal boundary line drawn through the Indonesian archipelago. It separates Sundaland (whose fauna is similar to that of Southeast Asia) from Wallacea, a transitional area where a mixture of animal species from both Asia and Australia are found. The line runs between the islands of Borneo and Sulawesi, and also separates the neighbouring islands of Bali and Lombok, immediately east of Java.

Sundaland is distinguished by the presence of large placental mammals - among which there are three species of orangutan, the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), and the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis). The latter species (shown in the photo), identified in 2017, is limited to a small area of northern Sumatra, the South Tapanuli regency. All three species of these great apes - which share about 97% of their DNA with humans - have been classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN (2016-2017) because of habitat loss, poaching, and the illegal pet trade.

Orangutans (meaning "forest-dwelling person" in Malay) are mostly arboreal, and live in tropical rainforests. Though they feed primarily on fruit, they are omnivorous like the other great apes. Their most distinctive physical features are their proportionally long arms, the long, reddish-brown hair covering their bodies, and the large cheek pads developed by dominant adult males. The differences among the three species involve face size, build, and hair colour.

Answer: palm oil

The Sunda Islands were once home to three populations of the tiger subspecies classified as Panthera tigris sondaica. Two of these populations, the Bali tiger and the Javan tiger, were hunted to extinction between the end of WWII and the 1970s. On Borneo, the largest of the Sunda islands, which Indonesia shares with Malaysia and Brunei, tigers are believed to have gone extinct in prehistoric times.

The Sumatran tiger is found in various forested habitats throughout the island of Sumatra - about a third of them within protected areas. Compared to the tiger populations that dwell in mainland Asia (subspecies Panthera tigris tigris), the Sumatran tiger is noticeably smaller (though the Bali tiger was the smallest of them all), and has somewhat broader and more numerous stripes. It favours dense, uncultivated forests, and is hardly ever seen in plantations or any other areas with high human presence. The Sumatran tiger is also the faunal emblem of the province of Jambi.

Though tiger hunting is now prohibited in Indonesia, the survival of these beautiful big cats is negatively impacted by other kinds of human activity - first and foremost, the intensive deforestation that has been conducted for several decades in order to make room for oil palm plantations. Palm oil is widely employed in the food and cosmetic industries, as well as biofuel, and Indonesia is one of the world's biggest producers of this versatile fat. This has led to large-scale clearing of the vast rainforest areas that once covered most of the islands of the archipelago, affecting its rich biodiversity.

Answer: it keeps away from water

The only extant species of its genus, the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) once inhabited rainforest and cloud forest areas of other South and Southeast Asian countries, including western India, Bangladesh, and southwestern China. Now, according to IUCN (2020), this critically endangered odd-toed ungulate is present in four separate locations - three on Sumatra and one in the Indonesian part of Borneo (Kalimantan) - with about 30 mature individuals.

The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest extant member of the family Rhinocerotidae, with an average height of 1-1.5 m (3-5 ft) at the shoulder. It is also the only Asian species of rhino that has two horns: the nasal horn is larger (generally around 15-25 cm/5.9-9.8 in), while the frontal (or posterior) horn is much smaller, in many cases no more than a stub, as shown in the photo. Both its skin and its hair (longer and more evident than in other rhino species) are reddish-brown. The Sumatran rhino favours hilly, forested areas close to water, and loves to wallow in mud to cool down during the day. A solitary, reclusive animal, this rhino is not very prolific in the wild (cows give birth to a calf every three years), and even less so in captivity.

Another very rare species, the one-horned Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus), is found in only one location - Ujung Kulon National Park at the western tip of the island of Java; it is the faunal emblem of the province of Banten. Both Indonesian rhino species are threatened by habitat loss and illegal hunting for their horns and other body parts.

Answer: they are the only carnivorous primates

Tarsiers belong to the suborder Haplorhini ("dry-nosed") of the order Primates, which also includes the simians (monkeys and apes). All extant species of the family Tarsiidae are found in forested areas of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines. The name "tarsier" comes from the elongated tarsus bones of these creatures' feet. Their most distinctive feature, however, are their enormous eyes: in some cases, a single eyeball can be larger than their brain. To compensate for their eyes being fixed within their skulls, tarsiers can move their heads 180 degrees in each direction, and have a very keen sense of hearing. As the photo implies, tarsiers are arboreal and nocturnal; they are also the only entirely carnivorous primates. Though they feed mainly on insects and other arthropods, they are also known to prey on small reptiles, birds, and bats.

The animal in the photo - a rare shot of a tarsier in the wild - is a specimen of Horsfield's, or western, tarsier (Cephalopachus bancanus), native to Sumatra, Borneo, and nearby islands. All members of the genus Tarsius, on the other hand, are endemic to Sulawesi, while the Philippine tarsier of the island of Bohol is the only member of the genus Carlito. Like most of the fauna of Maritime Southeast Asia, tarsiers are threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation and urbanization, as well as illegal hunting and the exotic pet trade. Sadly, these shy, sensitive animals do not take well to captivity, and may even become suicidal when overwhelmed by stress. One species, the Siau Island tarsier (Tarsius tumpara), endemic to a tiny volcanic island off the northern coast of Sulawesi, is listed by IUCN as Critically Endangered (2020).

The Horsfield's tarsier is the faunal emblem of the Bangka Belitung Islands, a province of Indonesia located off the southeastern coast of Sumatra - while the spectral tarsier (Tarsius spectrum) is the faunal emblem of North Sulawesi.

Answer: False

The world's largest lizard, the aptly-named Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is endemic to th Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Gili Motang, and Flores - all located east of Java and south of Sulawesi. This huge reptile - which can grow to a length of 3 m (9.8 ft), and weigh as much as 70 kg (150 lb) - is believed to have originated in Australia about 15 million years ago, and moved to what is now Indonesia when the landmasses of Australia and Southeast Asia collided. As the photo shows, the Komodo dragon's muscular tail is as long as its body, which is covered by osteoderms, small, closely fitting bony scales that form a sort of natural chain mail.

The Komodo dragon is an apex predator, though its diet relies on carrion as much as on live prey. Like all reptiles, dragons have a slow metabolism, and can survive on as little as one meal per month. They do not, however, prey on humans on a regular basis, and generally give them a wide berth. Unprovoked attacks on humans are very rare, and generally involve individuals that have lost their fear of people (as is the case with mammals such as bears). That being said, Komodo dragons can become aggressive if their territory is invaded, and it is a good idea not to get too close to them, as they are large and powerful animals. While recent scientific research has revealed that Komodo dragons - like other species of monitor lizard - possess venom glands, and that they use venom rather than bacteria in their saliva (as it was previously believed) to bring down their prey, not all scientists are in agreement on this issue.

The Komodo dragon is classified as Endangered by IUCN (2021) because of natural threats such as earthquakes and volcanic activity, as well as the usual man-made ones. In 1993 it was adopted as Indonesia's national animal.

Answer: cuscus

The common name "cuscus" given to the various species of Australasian possum comes from the local word "kusu" or "kuso", and bears no relation to the traditional North African dish whose name is spelled "couscous". Of the four genera of these marsupials, the dwarf cuscuses (Strigocuscus) and the bear cuscuses (Ailurops) are endemic to Sulawesi and some smaller nearby islands, while some species in the Phalanger genus inhabit the Maluku Islands (located east of Sulawesi) and the Indonesian province of Western Papua. Wallacea is the only region of Asia where marsupials are present.

Cuscuses are mostly arboreal, and their preferred diet is based on leaves and fruit - though some species will also eat insects and other invertebrates. The Sulawesi bear cuscus (Ailurops ursinus), shown in the photo, is the largest member of the suborder Phalangeriformes, which also includes gliders and the possums of New Guinea and Australia. These marsupials live in moist lowland forests, and - unlike other species of cuscus - are diurnal. Threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and the exotic pet trade, they are classified by IUCN as Vulnerable (2019).

Of the three incorrect choices, civets (family Viverridae) and chevrotains, or mouse deer (family Tragulidae) are also found in Indonesia, while the coati (family Procyonidae) is native to the Americas.

Answer: hornbill

The family Bucerotidae includes birds of variable size found in Africa, Asia and Melanesia, characterized by a long, often colourful, down-curved bill resembling a horn - hence the scientific name of the family, from the Greek word for "cow horn". Some hornbill species also have a casque - an enlargement of the bones of the skull or the upper mandible that looks like a helmet: this anatomical feature is sometimes used by adult males when fighting with each other, much like some mammals do when locking antlers or horns. In spite of their similar appearance, hornbills are not related to the toucans of Central and South America, which occupy the same ecological niche.

The 13 species of hornbill that live in Indonesia (9 of them in Sumatra) are all arboreal, and inhabit forested areas, where they can easily find fruit, their favourite food; they will also occasionally eat insects and small vertebrates. The knobbed hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix) shown in the photo, with its red casque and distinctive, inflatable throat pouch, is endemic to Sulawesi and a few nearby islands. It is currently classified as Vulnerable by IUCN (2017), as it is threatened by habitat loss and hunting.

Two other large hornbill species, the critically endangered helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) and the rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros) are faunal symbols of the provinces of West Kalimantan and North Kalimantan. The rhinoceros hornbill is also the national bird of Malaysia, and the state bird of the Malaysian state of Sarawak (located in northwestern Borneo), which is known as "Land of the Hornbills". The three birds listed as wrong answers are also found in Indonesia.

Answer: water buffalo

The lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis, in the photo) and the mountain anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) belong to the same genus as the wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) and its domestic counterpart (Bubalus bubalis). Also closely related to all these species is the rare tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) of the Philippines, while the dangerous Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) bears a more distant relation.

Anoa are also known as dwarf buffalo, and indeed they are small animals if compared to their massive relatives: in particular, the mountain anoa is the smallest species of wild cattle, with an average height of 70 cm (28 in) at the shoulder. Both species have nearly straight, upward-pointing horns; the mountain anoa has longer, thicker hair, and is often lighter in colour than the lowland anoa.

In spite of their names, both species of anoa tend to occur in the same remote forest habitat. Unfortunately, this habitat is becoming increasingly fragmented because of human encroachment. These small bovines are also hunted by the local population for their meat, hides, and horns, and it is estimated that only a few thousand individuals of each species remain. Both species are accordingly classified as Endangered by IUCN (2016). The anoa is the faunal emblem of the province of South East Sulawesi.

The three animals listed as wrong answers all belong to the family Bovidae: however, only the European bison is also a member of the tribe Bovini, while the musk ox is a kind of goat (tribe Caprini) and the blue wildebeest belongs to the tribe Alcelaphinae.

Answer: babirusa

Though babirusa means "pig-deer", these rather odd-looking creatures (genus Babyrousa) bear no close relation to deer. Being members of the family Suidae of the order Artiodactlyla, they are related to the "true" pigs (genus Sus), even if their closest relatives are the warthogs (genus Phacochoerus) of sub-Saharan Africa. Until 2002, zoologists recognized just one species, Babyrousa babyrussa (now known as the Buru babirusa), which was then split into four separate species. The best-known of these is the North Sulawesi babirusa (Babyrousa celebensis, in the photo), a denizen of tropical forests with a preference for wetland areas.

The most striking features of all babirusa species are the large canine tusks of the males, which grow upwards, piercing the flesh of the snout, then curve backwards, sometimes penetrating the skull. These animals have a rounded body and a pointed snout; the North Sulawesi babirusa is almost hairless, while the Buru babirusa has long, thick, golden-brown hair. Like all pigs, babirusa are omnivorous, though they prefer a vegetarian diet. Protected by Indonesian law, babirusa are hunted illegally for their meat, and threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation. All four species are classified as Vulnerable or Endangered by IUCN (2008-2016).

The bonobo is the smallest of the great apes, and the bongo is a large antelope: both are native to sub-Saharan Africa. The bandicoot, on the other hand, is a small Australian marsupial.

Answer: harpy eagle

New Guinea, the world's second-largest island, lies outside Wallacea, east of another biogeographical boundary known as Lydekker's Line. Its western portion is slightly smaller in area than the eastern one (the sovereign nation of Papua New Guinea), and comprises six indonesian provinces. The whole island is an interesting case, because its flora is closely related to that of Indonesia, while its fauna is almost completely Australian. New Guinea is known as one of the world's biggest biodiversity hotspots, with a high percentage of endemic species. About 75% of Western New Guinea's territory is covered in dense forest - accounting for over 50% of the island's total tree cover - home to a huge number of animal species, many of which may not yet been discovered.

The Papuan eagle (Harpyopsis novaguineae), also known as Papuan harpy eagle, thrives in undisturbed tropical rainforests, from sea level to elevations of 2,000 m (6,600 ft) and higher. It is a large eagle, with the relatively short wingspan typical of forest-dwelling raptors, a very long tail, and an even longer tarsus. As the pair in the photo are young, their crest is not yet fully developed, but can become rather conspicuous in older individuals. Because of their remote habitat, Papuan eagles are rarely seen in the wild (those in the photo are caged), and are believed to be naturally rare. Threatened by deforestation and hunting, they are classified by IUCN as Vulnerable (2016).

The Papuan eagle is related to the American harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja), the largest raptor in Central and South America, known for its enormous talons. The common name "harpy" given to both species comes from the half-woman, half-raptor creatures of Greek mythology. The martial and crowned eagles are both native to sub-Saharan Africa, while the tawny eagle is also found in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.