Paitchau

Paitchau (also Gunung Paitchau, or Paitchao, or Paitxau; locally, Pai Tekau Ile) is a mountain in the Tutuala subdistrict, Lautém District of East Timor.[1] Situated within Nino Konis Santana National Park, it is south of Lake Ira Lalaro. Though part of a mountain chain, Paitchau is an isolated mountain in the southern Sucos Mehara. It ranges in altitude from 0–960 metres (0–3,150 ft). BirdLife International has classified the mountain and its surrounding region of 55,797 hectares (137,880 acres) as an Important Bird Area of East Timor.[2] The area contained within the Paitchau Range and Ira Lalaro is sparsely populated and contains several unique faunal and floral species.[3]

Paitchau
Gunung Paitchau
View west along the Paitchau Range from near Tutuala
Highest point
Elevation960 m (3,150 ft)
Coordinates8°30′17″S 127°09′52″E 
Geography
Paitchau
Location in East Timor
LocationLautém District, East Timor

Geography

Paitchau is a sharp peak, prominent from the southwest.[4] The hill range is located in the extreme eastern part of Timor-Leste and it slopes towards the coastline of Lore and Silvicola which have coral reefs. The area is thinly populated and has diverse flora and fauna.[5] Its slopes are steep and the southern part of the range towards the coast is thickly forested.[6] The range rises to a maximum height of 960 metres (3,150 ft)[2] or 1,030 metres (3,380 ft) and is made up of massive primary karst limestone formations.[7]

Flora and fauna

Paitchau is characterized by tropical moist deciduous lowland forest and tropical mixed evergreen forest. There is swamp land around Ira Lalaro. Paitchau is said to contain "the best remaining 'primary’ forest" in the country.[8]

Fauna
Avifauna

There are 24 restricted-range species (listed below) in the Important Bird Area which includes the endangered Treron psittaceus (Timor green-pigeon), and the critically endangered Cacatua sulphurea (yellow-crested cockatoo).[2]

Critically endangered
Endangered
  • Timor green-pigeon (Treron psittaceus)
Near threatened
  • Slaty cuckoo-dove (Turacoena modesta)
  • Pink-headed imperial-pigeon (Ducula rosacea)
  • Spot-breasted white-eye (Heleia muelleri)
  • Orange-banded thrush (Zoothera peronii)
  • White-bellied bushchat (Saxicola gutturalis)
  • Black-banded flycatcher (Ficedula timorensis)
  • Olive-shouldered parrot (Aprosmictus jonquillaceus)
  • Cinnamon-banded kingfisher (Todiramphus australasia)
Least concern
  • Dusky cuckoo-dove (Macropygia magna)
  • Streaky-breasted honeyeater (Meliphaga reticulata)
  • Plain friarbird (Philemon inornatu)
  • Yellow-eared honeyeater (Lichmera flavicans)
  • Red-rumped myzomela (Myzomela vulnerata)
  • Plain gerygone (Gerygone inornata)
  • Fawn-breasted whistler (Pachycephala orpheus)
  • Timor figbird (Sphecotheres viridis)
  • Olive-brown oriole (Oriolus melanotis)
  • Timor stubtail (Urosphena subulata)
  • Timor leaf-warbler (Phylloscopus presbytes)
  • Timor blue-flycatcher (Cyornis hyacinthinus)
  • Red-chested flowerpecker (Dicaeum maugei)
  • Flame-breasted sunbird (Nectarinia solaris)
  • Tricoloured parrotfinch (Erythrura tricolor)
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References
  1. World Birdwatch. International Council for bird Presentation. 2004. pp. 2–.
  2. "Important Bird Areas in Timor-Leste". TL07 Mount Paitchau and Iralalaro. Birdlife International Organization. p. 54. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  3. Tiwary & Choudhary 2009, p. 266.
  4. Hydrographic Dept 1983, p. 185.
  5. Bird 2010, p. 1172.
  6. Miksic, Goh & O'Connor 2011, pp. 39-40.
  7. Curso de geologia do Ultramar (in Spanish). Junta de Investigações do Ultramar. 1968. pp. 120, 122.
  8. "Important Bird Areas factsheet: Monte Paitchau (proposed Conis Santana National Park)". BirdLife International. 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.

Bibliography
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