Timor-Leste

East Timor is a country located in Southeast Asia, its capital and largest city is Dili. It includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the western half of which is administered by Indonesia, the exclave of Oecusse in the northwestern half of the island, and the smaller islands of Atauro and Jaco. Separated by the Timor Sea, Australia is the country's southern neighbor. The country covers an area of 14,874 square kilometers. East Timor was settled by Austronesian and Papuan peoples. Despite its small size, the country has a diverse mix of cultures and languages, reflecting its ties to Southeast Asia and Melanesia. East Timor came under Portuguese rule in the 16th century and was a Portuguese colony until 1975. With many endemic and endangered species, East Timor has a diverse fauna. 38 species of mammals live in the Timor and Wetar deciduous forest region, which occupies the entire island. Two endemic mammal species of East Timor are the Timor Shrew and the Timor Horseshoe Bat. The largest mammal of the country and the region, the Javan Rusa, and the only native marsupial, the Northern Common Cuscus, are thought to have been introduced to the island in prehistoric times by people from the Lesser Sunda Islands and New Guinea. The Crab-Eating Macaque, several species of bats, and the aquatic mammal, the Dugong, are other mammals found in East Timor. A native horse, the Timor Pony, is also found in East Timor. East Timor is home to 289 bird species. Among the critically endangered bird species are the endangered Timor Green Pigeon and Wetar Ground Dove, as well as the Yellow-Crested Cockatoo. East Timor is also home to an endemic subspecies of the Iris Lorikeet.