Đà Lạt Plateau

The Đà Lạt Plateau (also called Lâm Viên Plateau, Lang Biang Plateau)[1] is a plateau in southeastern Vietnam.

At its centre is the city of Da Lat.

Several mountains in this area rise to over 2,000 m (6,562 ft), the highest being Chu Yang Sin at 2,442 m (8,012 ft).

A female crested argus in the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Yellow-billed nuthatch

Avifauna

The plateau has been designated as an Endemic Bird Area by BirdLife International. The plateau comprises a multitude of habitats for birds. Restricted-range species such as the crested argus (Rheinardia ocellata), short-tailed scimitar babbler (Jabouilleia danjoui), black-hooded laughingthrush (Garrulax milleti), white-cheeked laughingthrush (Garrulax vassali), collared laughingthrush (Garrulax yersini), grey-crowned crocias (crocias langbianis) and yellow-billed nuthatch (Sitta solangiae) inhabit the tropical montane broadleaf evergreen forest, the notable exception being the Vietnamese greenfinch (Carduelis monguilloti), which prefers pine forest. The varying altitudes in the plateau also form a congenial environment for birds that are suited to low altitude (up to 1,650 m) such as the black-hooded laughingthrush and the grey-crowned crocias, which rarely ventures above 1,450 m, while the collared laughingthrush often inhabits the higher peaks of the region, reaching above 1,500 m.[2]

Mammals

The Bidoup Núi Bà National Park, which is located in the northeastern section of the Đà Lạt Plateau, contains a significant number of mammalian species, totaling some 36 species of small mammals. Some of the notable creatures in this total include treeshrews (Tupaiidae), roundleaf bats (Hipposideridae), horseshoe bats (Rhinolophidae), squirrels (Sciuridae), bamboo rats (Spalacidae) and porcupines (Hystricidae).[3]

Treeshrew

Other

The Lang Biang Plateau frog is named after this area.

Weather

Đà Lạt Plateau is known for its mild and constant temperatures, which vary very slightly throughout the year. The average temperature in April, the warmest month, is 26.3 °C.January, the coldest month, sees an average temperature of 10.5 °C. October is the wettest month of the year.[1]

References
  1. "Cao Nguyên Lâm Viên". Chinci World Atlas. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  2. "Da Lat Plateau". BirdLife International. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  3. A.V., Abramov. "Small mammals of the Dalat Plateau, southern Vietnam". Russian Journal of Theriology. Retrieved 12 January 2013.

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