• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
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• Reference and further resources

Site description (2004 baseline)
The IBA comprises Mu Ko Similan National Park, in the Andaman Sea, c.70 km off the west coast of peninsular Thailand. The site encompasses nine small islands plus several smaller islets and semi-submerged rocks. The islands are composed of coarse-grained crystalline rocks on a north-south axis; the highest point, Ko Similan (244 m asl), is in the north. Sandy beaches occur along the northern and eastern coasts of some of the islands. The vegetation at the site is dominated by relatively species-poor lowland forest formations, with few large trees. The site includes a marine component of c.12,800 ha, and supports a rich diversity of coral reefs.

Key biodiversity
The site supports a population of the globally threatened Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea. It also supports the globally near-threatened Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica, which in Thailand is restricted to a few archipelagos in the Andaman Sea. In addition, the site supports populations of several nationally threatened and near-threatened species, including Pied Imperial Pigeon Ducula bicolor, Green Imperial Pigeon D. aenea, Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii and White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster.

Non-bird biodiversity: Plants Dipterocarpus baudii (CR) Anisoptera costata (EN) Dipterocarpus costatus (EN) Maytenus curtissii (VU)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mu Ko Similan (Thailand). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mu-ko-similan-iba-thailand on 23/12/2024.