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Geographic isolation can cause populations on islands to evolve independently from related populations elsewhere. Over very long periods, this can produce endemic species—animals or plants naturally found in one particular region and nowhere else.
The Philippines is especially interesting because its many islands have created numerous isolated habitats. Differences in mountains, forests, climate, and surrounding seas can further separate populations.
This is one reason island countries can contain extraordinary biodiversity. An animal may therefore exist on one Philippine island while having no natural population anywhere else on Earth.
© Convention on Biological Diversity