On the basis of local geographical position, climate, hydrology, geology and soil, Thua Thien Hue is home to many eco-systems and a diversity of creatures. Each ecosystem has its own characteristics and includes a lot of habitats, climatic sub-zones and hydrologic sub-areas. Therefore, local fauna are diverse in terms of species and distribution. Thua Thien Hue has 4 eco-regions, namely mountain, hill, coastal delta, lagoon and coastal sea. Bach Ma National Park and Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon are two typical eco-systems.
According to a statistics, Thua Thien Hue has 1.977 species (327 families and 65 orders) of 6 typical animal classes. Of all, there are 1.045 species of insect (142 families and 18 orders), 278 species of bony fish (74 families and 17 orders), 38 species of frog (6 families and tagless order), 78 species of reptile (17 families and 2 orders), 362 species of bird (56 families and 15 orders), 176 species of mammal (32 families and 12 orders).
Many of them are endemic and endangered species such as giant water bug (Leuthoceras indicus), Sunda flying lemur (Cynocephalus variegatus), lesser hairy-winged bat (Harpiocephalus harpia), hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana), giant muntjac (Megamuntiacus vuquanghensis), Edwards's pheasant (Lophura edwardsi), silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera), Central rufous-throated partridge (Arborophila merlini), Gutta rufous-throated partridge (A. rufogularis), Rana kuhli (Rana kuhli), shortfin eel (Anguilla bicolor) and Cyprinus centralus.
In addition to province-level endemic species, there are some species which are considered as endemic in Indochina and South East Asian region such as Saola and brown-shanked douc. According to the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUCN), there are 10% of fish, 25% of frog, 25% of reptile, 11% of bird and 25% of mammal are in danger of extinction. However, Thua Thien Hue eco-systems are still home to many endangered animals and new species.
As written in an incomplete statistic, 80 endangered species found in Thua Thien Hue are considered as endemic in some region or Vietnam. In detail, there are 6 species of fish, 5 species of amphibians, 15 species of reptiles, 16 species of bird and 37 species of mammal. Among endangered bony species, those in E and V classes are in a particularly and extremely critical state. Except for 80 species included in Vietnam Red List, scientists found Cyprinus Centralis in Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon. Perhaps, this kind of fish is the endemic specie of Thua Thien Hue lagoon as it has not been found in any other area of the same type since 1994.
According to Thua Thien Hue Geography - Nature chapter
(Social science publishing house - 2005)