These include rubber, sisal, palm oil, hemp, coffee, and black pepper. Squirrels, mice, and rats of many species are abundant. Insectivores are generally more diverse than in other regions of China, and carnivores are exemplified by civet cats and small-clawed otters. Types of birds vary according to their habitat. In the tropical forest, wildfowl, peacocks, and silver pheasants are common.
Reptiles are more restricted in distribution.
Guangdong has a number of pit vipers, including the huge and deadly Chinese vipers and bamboo vipers, as well as nonpoisonous pythons which are up to 20 feet long. Tigers, rhinoceroses, panthers, wolves, bears, and foxes used to roam the hills, but their numbers have been decimated by forest fires and persistent deforestation. In the tropical monsoon forest, however, a great number of animals, many of which live in the trees, still remain. Guangdong is largely dominated by the Han people, with only a very small proportion of other ethnic minorities. The Yaos are concentrated principally near Guangdong's northwestern border in areas.