List of Animals of Indonesia

Indonesia’s islands span beaches, rainforests, mountains and reefs, creating one of the world’s richest backdrops for wildlife. From remote Papuan forests to Sulawesi’s lakes and Borneo’s lowlands, animal life reflects long isolation, varied habitats and complex biogeography that draw both casual observers and researchers.

There are 51 Animals of Indonesia, ranging from the Anoa to Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise. For each species you’ll find below concise entries organized with the columns Scientific name,IUCN status,Range (islands/regions); this layout makes it easy to scan where a species lives and how it’s faring, and you’ll find the full list and details below.

How many species are included and how should I read the table?

The list includes 51 entries; each row shows the scientific name, the IUCN status to indicate conservation concern, and the range listed by islands or regions so you can quickly see endemism and distribution.

Which islands have the most unique species I should look for?

Wallacea (Sulawesi and surrounding islands), New Guinea (Papua), Borneo and Sumatra host many endemics—look for Sulawesi’s Anoa and New Guinea’s birds like Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise as examples of island-restricted species.

Animals of Indonesia

Images and Descriptions

Sumatran Orangutan

Endemic to Sumatra, this great ape has long, reddish-brown hair and is more arboreal than its Bornean cousin. It plays a critical role as a seed disperser in its tropical rainforest habitat, but faces extreme threats from deforestation.

Komodo Dragon

The world’s largest lizard, growing up to 3 meters. Found only on a few Indonesian islands, it’s an apex predator with a venomous bite, capable of hunting large prey like deer and water buffalo in its harsh, volcanic habitat.

Javan Rhinoceros

One of the rarest large mammals on Earth, with a single horn and armored-looking skin folds. The entire wild population of around 75 individuals is confined to a single national park in western Java, making it incredibly vulnerable.

Sumatran Tiger

The smallest surviving tiger subspecies, endemic to Sumatra. It has darker fur and narrower stripes, perfect for camouflage in dense tropical forests. Its population is estimated at fewer than 400, threatened by poaching and habitat loss.

Bali Myna

A stunning, almost entirely white starling with a bright blue eye patch and a distinctive crest. Endemic to a tiny area on Bali, it is one of the world’s rarest birds due to its popularity in the illegal pet trade.

Bornean Orangutan

Slightly larger than its Sumatran relative, this great ape is endemic to the island of Borneo. Males develop prominent cheek pads, or flanges. They are crucial to forest regeneration but are severely threatened by logging and agriculture.

Sumatran Rhinoceros

The smallest and hairiest of all living rhinos, and the only Asian rhino with two horns. It is critically endangered, with a tiny, fragmented population facing threats from poaching and habitat loss, pushing it to the brink of extinction.

Anoa

Also known as the Dwarf Buffalo, the Anoa is the world’s smallest wild cattle, endemic to the forests of Sulawesi. This reclusive, deer-like bovine is fiercely territorial and has small, sharp horns, but is endangered due to overhunting.

Proboscis Monkey

Instantly recognizable by the male’s long, fleshy nose, which is used to attract mates. This unique primate is endemic to Borneo, living in mangrove and riverine forests. They are highly social and are skilled swimmers.

Sulawesi Crested Macaque

A distinctive all-black monkey with a prominent crest of hair and striking red-brown eyes. Endemic to the island of Sulawesi, it lives in large social groups and is critically endangered due to hunting for bushmeat and habitat loss.

Babirusa

Known as the “deer-pig,” this bizarre wild pig is famous for the males’ upper canine teeth which grow upwards, piercing the snout and curving back towards the forehead. It is endemic to several Indonesian islands and lives in rainforests.

Goodfellow’s Tree-Kangaroo

A marsupial adapted for life in trees, found in the mountainous rainforests of New Guinea. It has short hind legs and strong forelimbs for climbing, with a beautiful coat of chestnut to red-brown fur and a long, counterbalancing tail.

Whale Shark

The world’s largest fish, this gentle giant is a filter-feeder, consuming plankton and small fish. Despite its immense size, it is completely harmless to humans and is a major attraction for divers in several Indonesian marine parks.

Sun Bear

The smallest bear species in the world, recognizable by the golden, crescent-shaped patch on its chest. The Sun Bear is an excellent climber, spending much of its time in trees feeding on insects, honey, and fruit in tropical forests.

Sunda Clouded Leopard

A secretive and powerful medium-sized wild cat with stunning, cloud-like coat patterns. It possesses the longest canine teeth relative to its body size of any living feline, an adaptation for hunting in the dense rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra.

Spectral Tarsier

One of the world’s smallest primates, small enough to fit in a human hand. It has enormous eyes, the largest of any mammal relative to its body size, which it uses for nocturnal hunting of insects. It can rotate its head almost 180 degrees.

Javan Hawk-Eagle

A medium-sized, striking bird of prey endemic to the dense tropical forests of Java. It is the national bird of Indonesia and is thought to have inspired the mythical Garuda. Its prominent crest and fierce gaze make it truly majestic.

Red Bird-of-paradise

Endemic to the islands of Raja Ampat, the male is famed for its spectacular plumage, including emerald green face, yellow cape, and long, crimson wire-like tail feathers, which it displays in an elaborate courtship dance.

Maleo

A bizarre, chicken-sized bird endemic to Sulawesi that does not incubate its own eggs. Instead, it buries them in geothermally heated soil or sun-exposed sand, letting nature do the work. The chicks are fully independent upon hatching.

Green Sea Turtle

A large, migratory sea turtle named for the color of its body fat. It feeds on seagrass in shallow coastal waters across Indonesia. Nesting beaches are critically important for its survival, but are threatened by coastal development.

Banteng

A species of wild cattle native to Southeast Asia. Banteng have a sleek coat, white stockings, and a white rump patch. They live in herds in open forests and are a key ancestor of some domestic cattle breeds in the region.

Malayan Tapir

The largest of the four tapir species, easily identified by its distinctive black-and-white pattern which provides camouflage. This solitary, nocturnal herbivore inhabits the dense rainforests of Sumatra, using its prehensile snout to forage.

Southern Cassowary

A massive, flightless bird, often considered the world’s most dangerous due to its powerful legs and dagger-like claws. It has a vivid blue neck, red wattles, and a prominent casque on its head, inhabiting the dense rainforests.

Rhinoceros Hornbill

A large species of hornbill with a massive, upward-curving casque on its beak, which is typically red and yellow. These birds are “farmers of the forest,” playing a vital role in seed dispersal in their rainforest homes.

Dugong

A large, herbivorous marine mammal, also known as the “sea cow.” It feeds exclusively on seagrass in coastal waters. The Dugong is related to manatees and is a shy, gentle creature threatened by habitat degradation and boat strikes.

Sunda Pangolin

A unique mammal covered in protective keratin scales. When threatened, it rolls into a tight ball. This nocturnal insectivore is one of the most trafficked animals in the world, hunted for its scales and meat.

Wallace’s Giant Bee

The world’s largest bee, about the size of a human thumb. Thought to be extinct for decades, it was rediscovered in 2019. The female uses her massive mandibles to collect resin and build nests inside termite mounds.

Reticulated Python

One of the world’s longest snakes, regularly exceeding 6 meters. It’s a powerful constrictor found in rainforests and woodlands, often near water. It is an ambush predator, feeding on birds and mammals, including large prey.

Saltwater Crocodile

The largest living reptile on Earth, found in coastal waters, estuaries, and rivers across the archipelago. It is a formidable and opportunistic hypercarnivorous predator, capable of taking almost any animal that enters its territory.

Javan Langur

Also known as the ebony lutung, this slender monkey has two color phases: a common glossy black and a rarer golden-orange. It lives in cohesive social groups and feeds primarily on leaves in various forest habitats.

Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise

One of the most colorful and stunning birds on Earth. The male has a bare turquoise-blue crown, a scarlet back, and two sickle-shaped violet tail feathers. Endemic to two small islands in Raja Ampat, it performs a mesmerizing courtship display.

Manta Ray

A giant, graceful ray that “flies” through the water with its large pectoral fins. It is a filter-feeder, consuming vast quantities of zooplankton. Indonesia hosts some of the world’s most significant manta ray aggregation sites.

Ocean Sunfish

The heaviest known bony fish in the world, with a peculiar, truncated body shape that makes it look like a swimming head. It often basks on its side at the surface, which is how it gets its “sunfish” name.

Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna

A monotreme (egg-laying mammal) thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in the Cyclops Mountains of Papua. This incredibly rare, nocturnal creature uses its long snout to probe for earthworms and is one of the most evolutionarily distinct mammals.

Wallace’s Flying Frog

A remarkable amphibian capable of gliding from tree to tree using the extensive webbing between its fingers and toes. Its bright green body and large webbed feet act as a parachute, allowing it to “fly” for distances of 15 meters or more.

Binturong

Also known as the bearcat, this unique mammal is neither a bear nor a cat. It has a prehensile tail and is known for its distinctive scent, often compared to that of buttered popcorn. It is a nocturnal omnivore living in forest canopies.

Marbled Cat

A small wild cat similar in size to a domestic cat but with a very long, bushy tail that aids its balance. It is an exceptional climber, thought to spend most of its life in the forest canopy, preying on birds and squirrels.

King Cobra

The world’s longest venomous snake. Uniquely, it primarily preys on other snakes. It is also the only snake that builds a nest for its eggs. It possesses a potent neurotoxic venom and is both feared and respected.

Tarsan Wasp

A newly discovered, massive species of digger wasp from Sulawesi, nicknamed the “Komodo dragon” of wasps. The male has extraordinarily long, sickle-shaped jaws that it uses to grip females during mating and for defense.

Sunda Slow Loris

A nocturnal primate with large, round eyes and a unique, toxic bite created by mixing saliva with oil from a gland in its arm. Its slow, deliberate movements help it hunt insects undetected, but it is severely threatened by the illegal pet trade.

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Distinguished by its narrow, pointed beak, this sea turtle is found in tropical coral reefs. Its beautifully patterned shell has made it a target for the illegal tortoiseshell trade, pushing the species to the brink of extinction.

Cenderawasih Bay Whale Shark

A unique, semi-resident population of whale sharks in Papua that exhibits unusual feeding behavior, sipping fish directly from fishermen’s nets. This interaction has made the bay a world-renowned and reliable spot for encountering these gentle giants.

Bornean Flat-headed Frog

The first known frog without lungs, this aquatic amphibian breathes entirely through its skin. It is highly adapted to life in cold, fast-flowing, oxygen-rich streams in the remote rainforests of Borneo, making it extremely vulnerable to pollution.

Pig-nosed Turtle

A freshwater turtle that is unique for its pig-like snout and flipper-like limbs, similar to a sea turtle. It is the only surviving member of its family and faces severe threats from the illegal pet and food trades.

Silvery Gibbon

An agile primate endemic to the island of Java, known for its beautiful, silvery-grey fur and incredibly long arms used for swinging through trees (brachiation). It is highly territorial, defending its home range with loud, melodic calls.

Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing

A spectacular butterfly named after James Brooke, the Rajah of Sarawak. Males have striking, electrically green triangular markings on their velvety black wings, which can span up to 19 cm. They are often found near hot springs.

Helmeted Hornbill

A magnificent bird with a solid, ivory-like casque that is highly prized by poachers, leading to its critical status. It is known for its bizarre call, which sounds like a maniacal laugh, and is a vital seed disperser.

Goliath Frog Beetle

A large, beautiful leaf beetle with an iridescent, metallic sheen of green, blue, or copper. Males have greatly enlarged and powerful hind legs, resembling those of a frog, which they use in territorial fights over females.

Ornate Flying Snake

A mildly venomous snake that can “fly” or glide by flattening its body and launching from treetops. It is a stunningly colored snake with a pattern of black, yellow, and green, and is an active, diurnal hunter of lizards and frogs.

Indonesian Coelacanth

A “living fossil,” this species of coelacanth was discovered in 1997 off Sulawesi. It was a shocking find, as coelacanths were thought to have gone extinct with the dinosaurs. It inhabits deep, volcanic underwater caves.

Pygmy Seahorse

A tiny seahorse, less than 2.5 cm tall, that is a master of camouflage. It lives its entire adult life on a specific type of gorgonian coral, perfectly mimicking the coral’s color and texture to avoid predators.