1. Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris)

Some scientists believe that this was the animal, and not the lion, that Sang Nila Utama saw when he visited Temasek in 1299.

While there were no lions in Singapore, tigers were relatively common then. The last tiger here was shot at Choa Chu Kang in 1932.

However, zoologist John Harrison, father of the current zoo curator Bernard Harrison, speculated in the 1960s that the animal was either the Golden Cat, or more likely, the Masked Palm Civet. He based his conclusion from the description of the colours and the size of the animal given in the Malay Annals.

Both the Golden Cat and the Masked Palm Civet are believed to be extinct in Singapore.

The lion was a symbol of divine kingship. By naming the place Lion City, Sang Nila Utama may have wanted to signify that he was re-establishing the lion throne, which he had set up in Palembang in Sumatra.

2. Lesser Mouse Deer (Tragulus javanicus fulviventer)

This is the famous pelanduk or Sang Kancil in Malay folklore which outwitted Sri Harimau (the tiger) by its quick thinking. The world's second smallest hoofed animal, the small and shy deer-like animal weighs only about 2 kg.

It hides among trees, feeding on small plants and fruits. Commonly found in Sumatra, Java and Kalimantan, the ones in Singapore were first described here in 1836. Up to 1924, they were reportedly spotted in places like the Botanic Gardens.

Today, only a handful exists, lurking in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Central Catchment Area.

3. Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus sp.)

This used to be a common sight in kampungs here. Naturalist Charles Darwin apparently believed it to be the original chicken from which all domestic chickens are descended.

It wears its multi-coloured plumage like a jester's costume, and has a yellow head with a red comb and wattles.

It used to be found in large numbers in India, South China and the Malay Archipelago but is fast disappearing today, largely due to crossbreeding with domestic chicken.

4. Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis fascicularis)

This was one of the several species of animals in Singapore described by Sir Stamford Raffles.

Visitors used to bring peanuts and fruits to feed these monkeys at the Botanic Gardens. This made them bold and aggressive, and the population there was eliminated in the 1970s.

Found all over South-east Asia, these monkeys still forage around Bukit Timah Hill, the Central Catchment Area, Pulau Ubin and Sentosa.

5. Singapore Freshwater Crab (Johora singaporensis)

Johnson's Freshwater Crab (Irmengardia johnsoni) and Swamp Forest Crab (Parathelphusa reticulata) These three crabs are unique to Singapore and won their discoverer, Peter Ng from the Raffles Museum, the National Heritage Prize in 1992.

He found that, contrary to what many people had thought for hundreds of years, the first two species actually have very different reproductive structures from the better-known Malaysian species.

The third species was confirmed to be new to science only after what Prof Ng calls 'months of patient stalking under moonless skies in the deep forest'.

The crab, found in Bukit Timah and the Central Catchment Nature Reserves, comes out only at night to feed under leaf litter.

Because of their very limited range, the fate of these three crabs hang in the balance.

6. Cream-coloured Giant Squirrel (Ratufa affinis affinis)

This squirrel, one of the largest in the world, used to be abundant here. But today, only two are believed to be left.

Discovered by Sir Stamford Raffles in Singapore in 1819, this sub-species was found to be unique to the island. Subsequently, other sub-species were found in South-east Asia.

7. Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)

Planted by the British in Singapore to break the Dutch monopoly on the nutmeg and clove trade in the East.

Clove failed early, but nutmeg fared better, though by 1864, a disease had wiped out most of the trees.

Gambier and pepper, grown by the immigrant Chinese, were the next successful cash crops, followed by rubber.

During World War II, most rubber estates were destroyed, while food crops such as tapioca, sweet potato and vegetables were grown extensively.

8. Vanda Miss Joaquim 'Agnes'

It beat 40 other contenders to clinch the 'national flower' tag in 1981, making Singapore the only nation to have a hybrid as a national flower.

The hybrid is the offspring of two Vanda species which were introduced into Singapore. It was discovered by an Armenian, Agnes Joaquim in her garden in Tanjong Pagar in 1893.

It rapidly became a popular garden plant in Singapore, and later, throughout South-east Asia and the Americas.

9. Singapore kopsia (Kopsia singapurensis)

Hardy and free-flowering throughout the year in semi-shade and damp areas, this is one of the few plants found only in Singapore and Peninsula Malaysia.

Its white flower with a crimson eye display the colours of the Singapore flag. Its scientific name was coined in 1923 by Mr H.N. Ridley, the first director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and 'father' of the rubber industry in this region.

10. Angsana (Pterocarpus indicus)

This fast-growing 'instant' tree was widely planted in the early years of the Garden City campaign in the late 1960s. However, it was vulnerable to a fungal disease, and found to have weak branches.

It was slowly phased out from the late 1970s. Later, native trees such as the yellow flame and the golden shower were planted to add colour to the streets and fruit trees such as the jackfruit and guava joined the list in the 1980s.

11. Tembusu (Fagraea fragrans)

With its creamy-white fragrant flowers and shiny orange berries, this is one of the most beautiful native trees around.

It was widely planted in the early years of the Garden City campaign, together with fast-growing 'instant' trees such as the angsana, rain tree and African mahogany.

Creepers and climbers were also grown on concrete structures to soften the harsh look of the rapidly developing city.

Thanks to this multi-pronged approach, much of the city was greened up by the 1970s.

12. Simpoh air (Dillenia suffruticosa)

This is a common shrub found in secondary forests here. Men who have gone through National Service and seen this plant growing in their training areas may remember it as the one they gave a very earthy name to, after the sheath at the base of the leaf.

In the old days, hawkers used its large oval-shaped leaves for wrapping rojak, tempeh, chee cheong fun and tofu.

Because of its large yellow flowers and red fruits, it is now often used as an ornamental garden shrub.