1. A distinctive bird, an adult White-bellied Sea Eagle has a white head, rump, underparts and tail, with dark- or slate-grey back and wings. In flight, its black flight feathers on the wings and short wedge-shaped tail are easily viewed from below. Often seen fishing around Hong Kong’s harbours, you’ll also spot this bird waiting for fishermen to unload their catch in the hope of an easy meal!
2. Mostly silver in colour, the Big-Eye Snapper has yellow fins and a yellow stripe along its side. Reaching around 35cm in length, it is a common species of schooling fish in Hong Kong waters, and a favourite food of raptors such as Fish Eagles and Kites.
3. One of Hong Kong’s very few truly arboreal snakes, the Large-spotted Cat Snake has a tan body with dark brown spots, and large gold eyes with vertical pupils. Mostly observed hunting just before daybreak, it feeds primarily on lizards, but will also hang on low branches over water to catch fish.
4. As Hong Kong’s largest lizard, the Common Water Monitor can grow up to four metres in length! They eat large insects, fish, crustaceans, frogs, birds and eggs and small mammals, and they also love carrion.
5. East Asian Porcupines are shy animals, mostly seen in mating pairs, and you’ll often hear their quills rustling in the undergrowth, even if you can’t see them! These large rodents normally feed on roots, tubers, bark and fallen fruits, but will also eat carrion, insects, and large tropical seeds. You can sometimes spot scat (poo), prints, and teeth marks where they have chewed at the base of trees.
6. Hong Kong has an incredible checklist of around 240 species of butterflies; this tally accounts for around 11% of China’s total species and is around five times more than the UK. The Peacock Pansy Butterfly exists in two distinct adult forms that chiefly differ in their under-wing patterns; the dry-season form has few markings, while the wet-season form has additional eyespots and darker lines. In both cases, this beautiful, rich orange-coloured butterfly has strong “eyespots” on each wing intended to startle potential predators.
7. An adult Chinese White Dolphin weighs around 200kg, can live for around 40 years and can be either white or pale pink in colour. As warm-blooded mammals, they need to surface to breathe every two to eight minutes. Their striking pink colour comes not from any pigment, but from blood vessels that are overdeveloped for thermoregulation. Sadly, they are critically endangered in Hong Kong due to habitat loss, fishing bycatch, vessel collision and pollution. Their numbers in local waters have fallen from an estimated 158 in 2003, to just 32 in 2020.
8. Threatened due to the demand for live seafood, the Hong Kong Grouper can demand a wholesale price of up to HK$1,500 per kilogram. If left in peace, these stunning fish can live up to 40 years.
9. Moon Wrasse are active, territorial fish that nip, chase and otherwise harass any fish that gets in their way! Their numbers are dwindling due to demand from the aquarium trade where they are favoured for their hardiness, bright colours, and engaging behaviour.
10. Brandishing extremely long, hollow spines that are mildly venomous, the Long-spined Sea Urchin’s sting is painful, but thankfully not fatal. The most common of Hong Kong’s 21 urchin species, this urchin is omnipresent in rocky reefs, with a population density of up to one individual per 3.4m2. The unusually large number of these urchins in the region is thought to be partly natural, and partly due to overfishing of its primary predator, the Blackspot Tuskfish.
11. The Black-Spotted Stingray has nocturnal habits, and rests motionless for much of the day in caves or under ledges. Sporting a black tail and a variable, distinctive light and dark mottled pattern on its upper surface, this slow-reproducing species is threatened by commercial fishing – both targeted and as bycatch – as well as habitat degradation.
12. Although common decades ago, Yellow Seahorses are now rarely seen in Hong Kong. Found predominantly in the territory’s eastern waters, they can reach up to 30cm in length, and have flexible necks, curled tails, and small mouths at the end of their tube-like snouts. They are poor swimmers, spending most of their lives holding onto sea vegetation with their prehensile tail. Yellow Seahorses are valuable in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and so, although their health benefits are unproven, they are captured and traded extensively both for TCM use and as curios. They are also caught as bycatch and affected by habitat destruction and pollution.
13. Although an unremarkable tree for most of the year, from January to March the Flame of the Forest becomes a riot of orange and vermilion flowers that cover its entire crown. These scentless flowers consist of five petals comprising one standard, two smaller wings, and a very curved beak-shaped keel.
14. The Golden Orb-weaver Spider is a common sight when walking in the forest. Look closely in its huge web and you will see multiple tiny red males, who often end up as a meal during mating! Prey insects, small birds and bats that blunder into the sticky lines are stunned by a quick bite, and then wrapped in silk.
15. Increasingly common in urban settings, the Wild Boar uses its long, rubbery snout for digging underground roots and bulbs, often tearing up large areas of forest… and refuse stations! An omnivore, they eat more or less everything, which is why they are particularly happy to rummage through our unattended garbage. Living in groups called “sounds” that are comprised of females and their offspring, these usually nocturnal creatures sleep for around 12 hours a day in hidden nests made of leaves. As property development continues to encroach into Hong Kong’s green belt areas, wild animals continue to be displaced, although some, like the wild boar, adapt well to living in the urban landscape.
16. One of the world’s most venomous marine animals, Blue-ringed Octopus are small and usually well camouflaged. However, despite its small size, this species carries enough venom to kill twenty-six adult humans within minutes. If threatened, they become patterned with bright blue circles, which are intended as a warning. Females lay only one clutch of about 50 eggs in their lifetime, towards the end of Autumn. These are incubated underneath her arms for about six months, during which time she does not eat. After the eggs hatch, she will die.
17. Known in Chinese as the “smiling angel” for its permanent grin, the shy Finless Porpoise is adorably round and chubby! Completely grey in colour and beak-less, its most distinct feature is that it lacks a dorsal fin. Reaching nearly two metres in length, Finless Porpoises are usually found either singly or in groups of up to 10 in Hong Kong’s southern and eastern waters. They are apex predators in this region, but are under threat from bycatch, habitat loss, abandoned fishing net entanglement, vessel collision and marine pollution. They are now considered vulnerable, with less than 200 recorded in Hong Kong’s surrounding waters.
18. With five arms that spread up to 20cm, the Comb Seastar’s scientific name comes from the Latin meaning "many thorned". This species has evolved to enable it to dig through sand, allowing it to be camouflaged on the seabed and feed on detritus. It can be found on silty sand bottoms – including right here in Victoria Harbour!
19. Other than the whale shark, the Grey Bamboo Shark, with its distinctive dark- and light-brown banded markings, is the only shark species Hong Kong won’t close its public beaches for if sighted. This small, mostly nocturnal, bottom-dwelling species is completely harmless to humans and favours warm shallows.
20. Able to alter both their colour and texture, Cuttlefish have eight arms and two tentacles, in contrast to octopus, who have eight arms but no tentacles. When stressed, they release an ink-like substance from a muscular siphon, which also provides them with jet propulsion when water is forcefully expelled through it.
21. Widely planted for its excellent shade, the Chinese Banyan is a member of the fig family. In urbanised areas, these trees can grow in cracks, walls, buildings and other masonry, and older specimens are easily identified by their long hanging aerial roots which gather water from the air. They are revered in Chinese culture as housing beneficial spirits and vital energy and can live for many centuries; there is a protected 400-year old specimen in Kowloon Park, as well as the famous Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees in Tai Po. Hong Kong Morris, a Hong Kong-based Morris-dancing team, dances at the Wishing Tree on May 1st each year to celebrate the arrival of summer!
22. Protected by law, the Burmese Python is Hong Kong's largest species of snake and, given its distinct colouration, pattern and size, is relatively easy to identify. Found across the territory, including several healthy populations on Hong Kong Island, this species can theoretically grow to over six metres in length, and weigh up to 90kg. However, the longest ever recorded in Hong Kong was (a still very impressive!) four-and-a-half metres.
23. Hong Kong’s only wild monkeys, Rhesus Macaques are widely believed to be the descendants of the monkeys originally introduced to the Kowloon Hills in the 1910s in order to control the spread of strychnos – a toxic local plant that was poisoning the reservoirs. The wild monkeys adapted well to their environment, forming a population that came to be known locally as “Monkey Hill”. Sociable and intelligent, macaques can live for up to 25 years, but beware – feeding them could incur you a HK$10,000 fine!
24. Up to 10cm long, with a distinctive green back and white belly, Green Cascade Frogs can often be seen (and heard!) across Hong Kong at night – particularly near streams and water catchments. Known as “The Malodorous Frog”, this species secretes a milky fluid on its skin when disturbed. This secretion is toxic enough to kill other frogs, is caustic, and has a pungent garlicky smell.
25. Reaching lengths of up to 70cm, the Chinese Ferret Badger acclimatises well to areas of human habitation, taking advantage of human-made sites such as building sites and rock piles which make good resting spots. Active at dusk and night-time, when alarmed, it emits foul-smelling anal secretions. Ferret-badgers are among the most hunted fur-bearing animals in Southern China but maintain relatively high population densities, in part due to their nearly-inedible meat and low prices of their pelts.
26. As rhizomatous aquatic herbs, Water Lilies are rooted in soil in bodies of water, with leaves and flowers either on, or emergent from, the surface. Their leaves are rounded, with stunningly symmetrical flowers. Their beauty has led to their widespread use as ornamental plants, where they have escaped from cultivation and become invasive in some areas. Insects love them – especially dragonflies.
27. One of the easiest dragonflies to recognise thanks to its characteristic short, broad abdomen and breath-taking colour, the Asian Pintail has a beautifully patterned azure-blue and black marbled body. Found in marshy habitats, it has a very weak and short flight, keeping close to the herbage and reeds of the heavily weeded ponds and lakes where it breeds.
28. There are over thirty local species of mantis, however with its trademark forelegs that are greatly enlarged and adapted for catching and gripping prey, the Praying Mantis’ upright, stationary posture – with forearms folded – has led it to become immediately recognisable.
29. One of eleven species of skink found in Hong Kong, the Five-striped Blue-tailed Skink is characterised by five yellowish-white stripes and stunning iridescent blue tail. The high-UV reflectance makes the tail conspicuous for snakes to grab, however, the skink counters this by dropping its tail and scarpering to safety! They prefer moist, wooded habitats or the inside walls of buildings, and love basking in the sun.
30. With a distinctive black cap that contrasts with their whitish throat, purple-blue wings and coral red bill, the Black-capped Kingfisher is mainly found in coastal and mangrove habitats. Their call is a cackling “ki-ki-ki-ki-ki” as they perch conspicuously waiting to dive for fish. Like many other Kingfishers, this species is much sought-after for their blue feathers, which are used in the millinery trade.
31. Sporting prominent ear tufts and reddish-brown upperparts, Brown Fish Owls spend their days in the shadows of large trees and can often be seen fishing off boats moored close to shore at night. They have huge, powerful, curved talons and will also hunt on foot, wading into the shallows. The species is monogamous, with pairs remaining together until one bird dies.
32: A weird and wonderful insect, the Lantern Bug has a head that is often nearly as large as its body, produced into a hollow structure resembling a rhino horn. It has six legs, extremely varied and brilliantly contrasting markings, and the mouth of a mosquito! These unusual creatures stay on the same tree for generations.
33. Bauhinia “Blakeana” was named in honour of the 1898-1903 British governor of Hong Kong, Sir Henry Blake. It has fragrant, orchid-like bright pink flowers and double-lobed leaves (similar in shape to a heart or a butterfly), and since 1997, the flower appears on Hong Kong's coat of arms, its flag and coinage. Blooming from early November to the end of March, the leaf of the Blakeana is known colloquially as the "clever leaf" (聰明葉), and is regarded as a symbol of wisdom, with students using their leaves as bookmarks in the hope that they will bring them luck in their studies. The species was discovered in around 1880 by a French catholic missionary near Pok Fu Lam, before being propagated to the Botanical Gardens. As far as is known, all Bauhinia Blakeana trees in Hong Kong today are propagated clones of that original tree, as the species is believed to be sterile.
34: The earliest of the cicadas to make its appearance each year in Hong Kong is the Spotted Black Cicada. Among the loudest insects known to man, a swarm of cicadas can produce sounds up to a staggering 120 decibels – similar to a rock concert!
35. The Leopard Cat is Hong Kong’s native wild cat, slightly larger and more muscular than a domestic cat. Solitary by nature, most hunt at night, favouring frogs, lizards, birds and small mammals. Their pelts are commercially traded on the black market, and despite it being illegal, these cats are sometimes kept as pets, meaning that they are in danger from poachers. Breeders keep Leopard Cats in captivity for interbreeding with domestic cats – their hybrid offspring are known as Bengal Cats and are highly prized in the pet trade.
36. Considered living fossils, the Horseshoe Crab has existed, virtually unchanged, for 400 million years – way before the first dinosaurs appeared on earth! Hong Kong is home to two species of Horseshoe Crab, mostly found on Lantau Island and in the Sai Kung area. Here, they live primarily in and around shallow coastal waters on soft sandy or muddy bottoms. A very peculiar trait of these animals is that their blood is blue instead of red due to high levels of copper! This quirk means that Horseshoe Crab blood is used in medicine worldwide, as it contains a particular enzyme that can detect the presence of toxins. Despite their name, they are not actually members of the crab family, but relatives of spiders and scorpions.
37. Mudskippers are actually amphibious fish that can live in and out of water, using their side pectoral fins to “walk”, “skip”, “jump” – even to climb trees! Very active, these strange creatures are constantly defending their territory, feeding or courting. They live in burrows made by the males who also look after the many hundreds of eggs that the females lay.
38. As its name suggests, the Yellow Boxfish is a box-shaped fish, with a distinct bright yellow colour and black spots forming a visual warning to any potential predators. When stressed or injured, it releases the neurotoxin "tetrodoxin" (TTX) from its skin, which can often prove lethal to fish in the surrounding waters.
39. Green Turtles fulfil an important role in marine ecosystems as they graze seagrass beds, preventing them from growing too tall and getting choked by sediment that obscures light and promotes disease. Threatened worldwide due to over-harvesting of both eggs and adults for illegal trade, these turtles remain in demand as a Chinese delicacy. They are also prone to accidental deaths in nets and long-lines of fishing fleets, boat and water-sport strikes, and marine pollution, as they often mistake floating plastic bags for their favourite food – jellyfish. Only one known nesting site remains in Hong Kong – a 0.5 hectare stretch of beach called Sham Wan on Lamma Island. Green Sea Turtles are slow to mature; it takes between 26-40 years before can breed!
40. Capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -6°C and as high as 31°C, Lion’s Mane Jellyfish are found in every ocean across the globe and are the world’s largest jellyfish. The largest recorded specimen was 2.3 metres in diameter, with tentacles stretching over 37 metres in length! They are composed of 95% water, and do not possess a brain, heart or eyes. Named for their showy, trailing tentacles that are reminiscent of a lion’s mane, these pelagic animals only live for around a year, and are most commonly spotted in Hong Kong’s waters in late summer.
41: Greyfaced Moray can grow up to 66cm long and is found in the sea around Sai Kung. Hong Kong is home to at least 15 species of Moray Eel, although they are rarely seen, due to being active at night and often hiding in crevices. Despite this, they are often caught by fishermen.
42. Red-whiskered Bulbuls are a pretty bird, and a common sight in Hong Kong. Found everywhere from woodlands to gardens, you’ll often hear their distinctive “kink-a-joo” call. Not only frugivores (fruit eaters), Crested Bulbuls also enjoy a tasty insect. In Hong Kong they breed from April until June, laying pretty light purple eggs.
Still favoured as pets today, they can live for up to eleven years in captivity, and you’ll often see them being “taken for walks” in their cages.
43. There is a healthy population of Red-billed Leiothrix in the forests of Tai Po Kau, where they are very active but very secretive and difficult to see, although you will often hear them due to their excellent singing. Once captured for the pet trade, these stunning little birds like to travel in large social groups.
44. The tiny Fork-tailed Sunbird is only 6-9cm long, with a distinctive and frequent “zwinkzwink” call with a metallic trill. They breed between April and June, eventually forming a ball of grass into a nest up in the trees. Only the males have the splendid iridescent plumage- the females, no less lovely- are olive green.
45. Characterised by its very unequal claw sizes, the Fiddler Crab is named for its appearance – when it is feeding, it resembles a violin player. In males, the large claw can weigh up to half its body mass and is mainly used for waving displays during combat with other males. The smaller claw is then used for eating. You may notice small sandy balls around their burrows; these crabs are detritus feeders and have advanced mouth pieces which sort through the sand, ejecting any inedible matter in the form of a pellet.
46. Rare, and mostly nocturnal, Eurasian Otters are long, slender creatures well-equipped for their aquatic habit. Brown above and cream below, they are now very rare in Hong Kong due to habitat destruction, as well as the use of pesticides that pollutes waterways, poisoning their food supply. The most common sign of this otter’s presence is their poo, which they leave on the ground near the water and which, rather surprisingly, smells like jasmine tea! They once occurred throughout the region, however, due to excessive hunting for their fur and as traditional medicine, otter populations have dramatically declined.
47. Now critically endangered, Chinese Pangolin are shy and gentle animals. They feature 18 rows of overlapping scales accompanied by hair – a rare combination in mammals. Secretive by nature, if threatened, they curl themselves into a ball so their scales act like armour plating. Hunted for their meat, claws, and scales, the Chinese Pangolin has no defence against humans – not even teeth – making them the world’s most trafficked mammal. Pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in parts of China and Vietnam and has been reported to sell for prices as high as US$200/kg. Meanwhile, their scales and blood are in great demand throughout Asia for their (unproven) medicinal qualities, claimed to treat a wide variety of ailments from cancer to asthma. Each pangolin has around 500g of scales, valued at around US$350 on the black market.
48. The Golden Coin Turtle is named for its golden head and high monetary value. Teetering on the brink of extinction due to the exotic pet trade, owning one is seen as a sign of wealth and good luck in Chinese culture, and there is also a high value placed on its purported medicinal value, claimed as a cure for everything from acne to cancer. Eating the animal in a dessert jelly called “guilinggao” (龜苓膏) is falsely believed to promote general well-being. One of the most endangered species of reptile due to black market trafficking, the small populations in Hong Kong represent its last chance for continued existence in the wild.
49. Of the 23 species of amphibians in the territory, the Hong Kong Newt is the territory’s only salamander, or tailed amphibian. Brilliantly camouflaged brown with an orange belly, this newt favours unpolluted mountain streams. Its breeding season occurs in pools during the dry season of September to March in order to avoid exposing its eggs to fast currents. Males have a broad, blue streak on the tail which disappears after breeding.
50: Like most Rhinolophus bats, the Chinese Rufous Horseshoe Bat’s wing shape and highly sophisticated echo-location prey detection makes it adept at foraging in cluttered environments. This bat gets its name from its large, horseshoe-shaped nose-leaves, and roosts in caves- often with other bat species.
51: Like all typical redstarts, male and female Daurian Redstarts vary dramatically in appearance, with the males more striking in colour (as seen here). These lovely birds favour open woodland, forest edges and agricultural margins, and are also commonly found in parks and urban gardens. They are reasonably confiding, and often allow humans to approach quite closely before moving off.
52: Named for the beautiful bright green colour of their back and wings, the Emerald Dove can often be heard when out walking. Their call is a low, soft moaning cooing consisting of about six to seven coos that start quietly then increase in intensity. You may also hear a nasal "hoo-hoo-hoon" and catch sight of its iridescent feathers as it flies away.
53. The omnivorous Red Muntjac feeds on grass, fruits, shoots, seeds and birds' eggs, and has also been known to scavenge, feeding on carrion. Also known as the Reeves’s Muntjac or Barking Deer due to their distinctive call, one of the best places to see this protected species in Hong Kong is Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden.
54. Also known as Pallas’s Squirrel, Red-Bellied Tree Squirrel is primarily herbivorous, but they will also eat insects, as well as occasional bird eggs. Diurnal by nature, they inhabit much of the forest canopy and construct leaf nests. These squirrels make calls to warn neighbours of predators and have been observed to mob tree-climbing snakes, with females protecting their young being particularly likely to join in!
56. Stockier than its monochromatic cousin, the Many-banded Krait, the Banded Krait has a very distinct keeled shape to its body which makes it look triangular. Growing up to almost two metres in length, their high contrast, evenly-spaced yellow and black banding is a visual warning – this is a highly venomous snake and any bite should be treated as life-threatening.
57. Despite their name, centipedes can have a varying number of legs, and no species actually has one hundred! Hong Kong’s Giant Centipede, the Scolopendra, is the largest, and therefore the most dangerous. Capable of great speed and a nasty bite that hospitalises many people each year, this type is characterised by 21 pairs of legs, with the last pair of "legs" used as a sensorial organ, rather than for movement.
1．成年的白腹海鵰是一種獨特易認的鳥類，頭、腰、下身和尾羽為白色，背部和雙翼呈深灰色或板岩灰色。在牠飛行時，可以容易地從地面看到翼底的黑色飛羽和短楔形尾部。牠經常在本地海港附近捕魚，你還會發現牠在等着漁民卸貨，就能吃到岸上的魚！
2．紅畫眉大多為銀色，側面有黃色的鰭和黃色的條紋。牠長約35厘米，是香港水域中常見的群游性魚類，也是鵰和鳶等猛禽喜愛的獵物。
3．繁花林蛇是本港少數真正的樹棲蛇，棕褐色的身上有深褐色的斑點，而金黃色的大眼睛則有垂直的瞳孔。牠通常於黎明前出沒獵食，食物以蜥蜴為主，也會懸掛在水面上低垂的樹枝去捕獵魚類。
4．巨蜥為香港最大的蜥蜴，最長可達四米！牠們會吃大型昆蟲、魚類、甲殼類動物、青蛙、鳥類、蛋及小型哺乳類動物，也喜歡吃腐肉。
5．東亞豪豬是害羞的動物，大多雙雙作伴。即使看不見牠，也經常聽到牠的長刺在樹叢中沙沙作響！這些大型齧齒動物通常以植物的根、塊莖、樹皮和果實為食，也會吃腐肉、昆蟲和大型熱帶種子。你間中會發現牠的糞便、腳印和咬樹根的齒印。
6．香港有豐富的蝴蝶品種，共約240種，佔中國總數的11％，更是英國的五倍左右。美眼蛺蝶有兩種不同的成蟲型態，分別主要在於翅膀腹面的斑紋。旱季型幾乎沒有斑紋，而濕季型則具有額外的眼斑和深色的線條。這種橙色蝴蝶美麗而鮮豔，兩種型態的翅膀背面都有明顯的「眼斑」，用以擾亂捕食者。
7．成年的中華白海豚重約200公斤，可以活到40歲左右，有白色或淡粉紅色的膚色。牠是溫血哺乳類動物，需要每兩至八分鐘浮上水面呼吸。牠特別的粉紅膚色並非源自任何色素，是來自調節體温而增生的血管。可悲的是，由於棲息地喪失、漁業誤捕、船隻碰撞和污染，牠現正極度瀕危，在本地水域的估計數量已從2003年的158條下降至2020年的32條。
8．因為受到活海鮮貿易的威脅，紅斑的批發價最高可達每公斤1,500港元。如果沒有過度捕撈，這種美豔的魚可以活上40年！
9．新月錦魚會積極地捍衞領土，咬啄、驅趕並騷擾任何入侵的魚類！牠頑強的特性、鮮豔的色彩和迷人的行為引起水族貿易的青睞，數量因而日漸減少。
10．長刺海膽有極長、空心和微毒的刺，若不幸被刺中會很疼痛，但不會致命。這種海膽是香港21種海膽中最常見的一種，於石礁中無處不在，族群密度可達到每3.4平方米一隻。牠的數量異常之多，既是天然因素，也是由於其主要天敵—青衣魚被過度捕撈。
11．黑點刺魟習慣在晚間活動，日間大部分時間在洞穴中或岩礁下靜止休息。牠有黑色的尾，身上有不規則、獨特的明暗圓斑。牠的繁殖速度緩慢，正面臨商業捕魚、誤捕及棲息地被破壞的威脅。
12．雖然黃海馬在數十年前很常見，但是現今在香港非常罕有。主要分佈於本地的東部水域，最長可達30厘米，頸部靈活，尾巴捲曲，管狀的吻部末端有小嘴。黃海馬不善游泳，一生大部分時間都用尾巴抓住海中植物。牠在傳統中藥中很有價值，儘管牠對健康的益處尚未證實，仍被大量捕獲並廣泛用於中藥和古玩交易。牠亦受到誤捕、棲息地被破壞和污染的影響。
13．雖然鳳凰木在一年中的大部分時間都不起眼，但是由一月至三月間盛開的橙色和朱紅色花朵會覆蓋整個樹冠。這些無香的花朵由五瓣組成，包括一塊標準、兩塊較小的翼和一塊非常彎曲的喙形龍骨瓣。
14．在森林裏散步時很容易看見大木林蜘蛛。細心觀察其巨大的網，會看到多隻細小的紅色雄性，通常會於交配後成為食物！牠會迅速咬住誤墮黏網的昆蟲、小鳥和蝙蝠，然後用蜘蛛絲綑縛獵物。
15．野豬在市區環境中越來越普遍，牠用長而有彈性的吻部來挖掘地下的根莖和鱗莖，經常翻開大片森林而未有停止！牠是雜食性動物，幾乎所有東西都吃，所以特別喜歡翻找垃圾。由雌豬及其幼豬組成的豬群會一起生活，這些夜行動物每天可在樹葉製成的巢穴中睡上12小時。隨着香港的城巿發展逐漸侵佔綠化帶，野生動物持續流離失所，然而部份動物如野豬卻十分適應市區的生活。
16．藍圈章魚是世界上最劇毒的海洋動物之一，體型細小，通常偽裝得很好。儘管牠身型細小，體內的毒液足以在數分鐘內殺死26個成年人。當牠受到威脅時，會展示明亮的藍色圓圈以作警告。雌性會在秋末時產下一窩約50顆的卵，用觸手孵卵約六個月，期間並不進食。當卵孵化後，她就會死去。
17．害羞卻可愛的江豚圓而胖，其天生的笑容更令牠被稱為「微笑的天使」！牠全身灰色，無喙，最明顯的特徵是沒有背鰭。牠長約兩米，通常在香港南部和東部水域中單獨或成群出沒，一群可達十條。江豚是本地水域的頂級掠食者，但亦面對誤捕、棲息地喪失、被廢棄漁網纏繞、船隻碰撞和海洋污染的威脅。牠是易危物種，在香港水域只剩下不足200條。
18．多棘槭海星有五隻伸展達20厘米的觸手，其學名來自拉丁文「很多刺」的意思。牠進化到能夠在沙中挖掘，在海床上偽裝並進食碎屑。你可以在粉沙質海底找到牠-包括維多利亞港！
19．除了鯨鯊外，帶有獨特深淺棕色條紋的灰斑竹鯊是唯一不會令香港公眾海灘封閉的鯊魚品種。這種小型、大致夜行性、底棲的鯊魚對人類完全無害，並且喜歡溫暖的淺灘。
20．墨魚能夠改變身體的顏色和質感，有八條觸手和兩條觸鬚，而章魚則只有八條觸手而沒有觸鬚。當牠們感到壓力時，會從強而有力的體管中噴出類似墨汁的物質，當墨水被強行排出時，同時提供了噴射式推進力來逃走。
21．細葉榕被廣泛種植作遮陰，是榕屬植物的一員。它可以生長在市區的裂縫、牆壁、建築物和磚石中。古樹很容易以懸垂的長氣根來識別，這些氣根可從空氣中吸收水份。細葉榕在中國文化中享負盛名，因它蘊藏着靈氣和生機，可以生存數百年。九龍公園內有一棵受保護的400年古樹，同樣著名的還有大埔林村的許願樹。香港莫里斯舞蹈團於每年的五月一日都會在許願樹下跳舞來慶祝夏天的來臨！
22．緬甸蟒受香港法例保護，是香港最大的蛇，其獨特的顏色、斑紋和體型易於辨認。牠遍佈香港，在香港島有數個的健康的族群。緬甸蟒可以長逾六米，重達90公斤，香港有紀錄以來，最長的是四點五米。
23．恆河猴是香港野生的猴子。相信是最初在1910年代被引入九龍金山，以減少本地的有毒植物—馬錢污染水塘。恆河猴非常適應本港的環境，形成了一個龐大族群，其聚居地更被名為「馬騮山」。牠們喜歡羣居和非常聰明，可以活到25歲，但要注意餵飼牠們會被罰款10,000港元！
24．大綠蛙可達10厘米長，有獨特的綠色背部和白色腹部。可以在晚上於香港各地看到或聽到牠，尤其是在溪流和集水區附近。大綠蛙更被稱為「臭蛙」，因為在受到干擾時，會在皮膚上分泌乳狀液體。這種腐蝕性分泌物的毒性足以殺死其他青蛙，並散發出刺鼻的大蒜味。
25．鼬獾可長達70厘米，很適應人類居住的地區，會利用人工地方如建築工地和石堆休息。牠活躍於黃昏和夜晚，當受到騷擾時，肛門會排出惡臭的分泌物。鼬獾是中國南部最多被捕獵的毛皮動物之一，但其數量仍相對地高，因為牠的肉幾乎不可食用，而且毛皮價格低廉。
26．睡蓮是根莖類的水生植物，植根於水中的土壤，葉子和花朵生於水面或水上，葉子是圓形的，花朵極其對稱。睡蓮的美態使它被廣泛種植作觀賞植物，因此容易流落野外，在部份地區變得具入侵性。昆蟲喜歡睡蓮，尤其是蜻蜓。
27．錐腹蜻是較容易辨認的蜻蜓，有短而寬的腹部和豔麗的顏色，身上有精美的天藍色和黑色大理石斑紋。錐腹蜻可見於沼澤環境，只有微弱而短程的飛行能力，使牠們集中在蘆葦及雜草叢生的池塘和湖泊繁殖。
28．香港有超過30種螳螂，牠們有標誌性的特大前肢，適合捕捉和抓緊獵物。其收起前肢和直立不動的姿態使牠易於辨認。
29．藍尾石龍子是香港可見的十一種石龍子之一，身上有五條黃白色條紋，斑斕的藍色尾巴會反射紫外光，對蛇類而言特別顯眼易抓，石龍子或要使出絕招— 脫尾逃生！牠們普遍棲息於潮濕的樹林或建築物的牆壁，更喜歡曬太陽。
30．藍翡翠戴上獨特的黑帽子，與白色的喉部形成鮮明對比，雙翼紫藍色，嘴部珊瑚紅色。牠主要在海邊和紅樹林出沒，會站在當眼位置伺機捕魚，並發出嘶啞的「傑-傑-傑-傑-傑」叫聲。一如許多其他翠鳥，藍翡翠的藍色羽毛是製帽業的熱門材料。
31．褐魚鴞有顯眼的角羽和紅褐色的上身，日間會躲在大樹陰下，晚上則常在岸邊的船隻附近捕魚。牠有強大有力的鈎型爪，會用腳在淺灘捕獵。實行一夫一妻制的褐魚鴞會成對生活，直至配偶死亡。
32．龍眼雞是一種古怪又奇妙的昆蟲，其頭部幾乎如身體一樣大，突出成犀牛角般的空心結構。牠有三對腳、變化多樣且對比鮮明的斑紋，以及蚊子般的嘴！這種奇特的生物會世世代代在同一棵樹上生活。
33．洋紫荊以1898-1903年在任的香港總督亨利‧卜力爵士的名字命名。它有芬芳並像蘭花般鮮豔的粉紅色花朵和雙瓣葉，葉形有如心臟或蝴蝶。自1997年，洋紫荊出現在香港的徽章、區旗和貨幣上。它在十一月初至三月底開花，其葉俗稱「聰明葉」，被視為智慧的象徵，學生們會以葉子作書籤，祈求為學業帶來好運。這種樹約在1880年由一位法國天主教傳教士於薄扶林附近發現，然後被帶到植物園栽培。就目前所知，現今所有香港的洋紫荊都是該樹殖株而成，因為這種樹被認為是不育的。
34．每年在香港最早出現的蟬就是黃點斑蟬。牠是叫聲最響亮的昆蟲之一，一群蟬可以發出高達120分貝的聲響—好比身處搖滾音樂會！
35．豹貓是本地的野生貓科動物，比家貓略大和強壯。牠慣於獨行，通常於晚間捕獵青蛙、蜥蜴、鳥類及小型哺乳類動物。豹貓的毛皮會在黑市中交易，牠還會被非法地當作寵物飼養，意味着牠有被偷獵者捕殺的危險。繁殖者會將豹貓與家貓雜交繁殖—其後代被稱為孟加拉貓，在寵物市場中有價有市。
36．被認為是活化石的馬蹄蟹已經存活了4億年，遠遠早於地球上恐龍的誕生，其樣貌幾乎沒有改變！香港有兩種馬蹄蟹，大多在大嶼山和西貢可見，主要生活在沿岸淺水區的鬆軟沙底或泥底。馬蹄蟹有一個奇異的特徵—血液因高銅含量而變成藍色非紅色！馬蹄蟹的血液有廣泛的醫學用途，因為它含有一種特定的酶，可以檢測毒素。雖然牠的名字中有「蟹」字，但其實不是蟹，而是蜘蛛和蝎子的近親。
37．彈塗魚實際上是兩棲魚類，可在水中和水上生活，會利用胸鰭來「行走」、「彈跳」、「跳躍」，甚至爬樹！這種奇特的生物經常活躍地捍衞領土、進食或求偶。雄性會挖掘地洞作居所，也會照顧雌性產下的數百顆卵。
38．顧名思義，粒突箱魨是一種箱形的魚，有獨特和鮮明的黃色身軀及黑色斑點，對捕食者作出警告。當牠受到壓力或受傷時，會從皮膚釋放出神經毒素「河豚毒素」（TTX），足以令附近的魚類死亡。
39．綠海龜在海洋生態系統中擔當重要的角色，透過進食海草，可防止海草生長過高、被沉澱物遮擋陽光和傳播疾病。牠正面臨全球性的威脅，成體和蛋被非法地過度捕獵，更會成為中國人的美味佳餚。綠海龜亦容易意外死亡，如被魚網和魚絲纏繞、船隻和水上運動的撞擊、海洋污染及誤食膠袋，因為誤認膠袋為其喜歡的食物水母。香港只餘一個已知的海龜產卵地點—南丫島深灣上約0.5公頃大的沙灘。綠海龜成長緩慢，需要26-40年才能繁殖！
40．獅鬃水母能夠在-6°C至31°C的海洋中生存，遍佈全球的海域，是世界上最大的水母。有記錄最大的樣本直徑為2.3米，觸鬚長逹37米！牠由95％的水份組成，沒有大腦、心臟或眼睛。這種遠洋動物因其艷麗飄逸的觸鬚尤如獅鬃而得名。牠只能存活一年左右，常見於夏末的香港水域。
41．密點裸胸鱔可以生長至66厘米長，在西貢海域可見。香港至少有15種鯙，但都很罕見，因為牠們活躍於晚間，並且經常躲藏在縫隙中。儘管如此，牠們還是經常被漁民捕獲。
42．紅耳鵯是一種美麗的雀鳥，在香港很常見。從林地到花園都可聽到牠獨特的「kink-a-joo」叫聲。牠不單是果食動物，也喜歡吃美味的昆蟲。紅耳鵯四月至六月會在香港繁殖，產下淺紫色的蛋。牠至今仍然是受歡迎的寵物，圈養環境下可以活到11歲，而且你經常會看到主人帶着籠中鳥「散步」。
43．在大埔滘的樹林裏有一群活躍的紅嘴相思鳥，雖然你或會聽到其悅耳的歌聲，但牠們非常隱秘，很難看見。這些漂亮的小鳥曾被捕作寵物，喜歡群體活動。
44．小巧的叉尾太陽鳥只有6-9厘米長，叫聲是獨特且頻繁的「zwinkzwink」和帶有金屬感的顫音。牠在四月到六月間繁殖，會在樹上築成一個草製的球型巢。只有雄性才有絢麗的羽毛，同樣可愛的雌性卻是橄欖綠色。
45．招潮蟹的名字源自牠覓食時的外貌好像在拉小提琴。牠的特徵是一大一小的螯，雄蟹的大螯可佔體重的一半，主要在與其他雄蟹交戰時揮動，小螯則用來進食。在牠的洞穴周圍或會發現小沙球，因這種蟹是食碎屑動物，有精密的口部去濾食沙粒，把不可食用的物質排出成顆粒狀。
46．稀有而夜行的歐亞水獺十分適應於水中生活，修長的身軀有啡色的背部和奶白色的腹部。由於棲息地被破壞，殺蟲劑污染水源並毒害其食物，牠如今在香港很少見。最常見的出沒痕跡是牠留在水邊附近地面的糞便，令人驚訝的是，糞便聞起來竟像茉莉花茶！水獺曾經在本港多處出現，但由於被過度捕獵作皮草和傳統醫藥，數量正急劇減少。
47．極度瀕危的中國穿山甲是害羞而溫柔的動物。有18行重疊的鱗片並伴有毛髮，是哺乳類動物中罕見的結構組合。牠生性隱秘，當受到威脅時會蜷縮成球狀，鱗片化為盔甲保護身體。穿山甲對人類並沒有防禦能力，甚至沒有牙齒，被大量捕捉以出售其肉、爪和鱗片圖利，因而成為世上最多被非法販運的哺乳類動物。穿山甲肉是部分中國和越南地區的佳餚，售價高達每公斤200美元。牠的鱗片和血液同樣在亞洲各國供不應求，因其有未經證實的藥用價值，據說可治療各種疾病如癌症和哮喘。每隻穿山甲約有半公斤鱗片，在黑市價值350美元。
48．金錢龜因其金色的頭部和高昂的價值而得其名。由於寵物市場的需求，牠正瀕臨絕種。在中國文化中，擁有金錢龜是富有及好運的象徵。金錢龜據稱有高度藥用價值，能醫百病，上至癌症，下至痤瘡，食用金錢龜而製的龜苓膏被誤認為會促進身體健康。金錢龜因黑市販賣而成為最瀕危的爬行動物之一，在香港碩果僅存的少數族群或者是金錢龜在野外存活的最後希望。
49．在香港的23種兩棲動物中，香港瘰螈是唯一的本地蠑螈，即是有尾的兩棲動物。牠褐色的背部有良好的保護色，腹部呈橙色，喜歡在不受污染的山澗生活。在九月至三月間的旱季，牠會到水潭繁殖，避免將卵產於湍流中。雄性的尾巴上有寬闊的藍色條紋，在繁殖期過後就會消失。
50．中華菊頭蝠像大多數菊頭蝠一樣，雙翼的形狀和精密的迴聲定位探測有助牠在雜亂的環境中覓食。這種蝙蝠因其巨大、馬蹄形的鼻葉而得名，大多與其他蝙蝠棲息在洞穴中。
51．北紅尾鴝像所有典型的尾鴝一樣，雌性和雄性的外表十分不同，雄鳥的顏色更為奪目（如圖示）。這些可愛的小鳥喜歡生活在開闊的林地、森林和農地的邊緣，在公園和市區的花園也很常見。牠並不害怕人，任由遊人慢慢地接近觀賞。
52．綠翅金鳩顧名思義有翠綠的翅膀和背部，外出散步時可經常聽見牠們。其叫聲是低沉而柔和的六至七節咕咕聲，初時稍弱，然後逐漸增強。還可在牠飛走時聽到由鼻孔發出的「hoo-hoo-hoon」聲，以及看到其色彩斑斕的羽毛。
53．雜食性的赤麂以草、水果、幼芽、種子和鳥蛋為食，也會吃腐肉。牠獨特的吠叫聲使牠又名吠鹿。嘉道理農場暨植物園是觀察這種受保護動物的好地方。
54．赤腹松鼠主要是草食性的，偶爾也會吃昆蟲及鳥蛋。牠於日間活動，棲於樹冠，並以樹葉築巢。這些松鼠會發出叫聲警告鄰居有捕獵者，亦會圍攻攀樹的蛇，特別是正在保護幼小的雌鼠！
55．金環蛇比其單色表親銀環蛇體形更健壯，非常明顯的龍骨形狀使牠看起來呈三角形。牠可長達兩米，其對比鮮明、均等的黃黑相間條紋是警告色—這是一條具劇毒的蛇，任何咬傷都有生命之虞。
56．蜈蚣又名百足，各種蜈蚣的足部數目都不同，但沒有一種剛好有一百隻足！香港的巨型蜈蚣是最大，也是最危險的。牠移動迅速，每年很多人都因刺痛的咬傷而送院。牠的特點是有21對足，最後一對「足」用作感知，而非行走。
衷心感謝香港野
啟發我們進一步了解本地的野生動植物