OCEANIAN (TROPICAL PACIFIC OCEANIC ISLANDS)
Tropical Moist Forest
The tiny pockets of forest of the small tropical and subtropical islands of the vast Pacific Ocean include only a small number of species, but they are unique for their being remote and often endemic. The biogeography of this region is not really distinct; if you look at the groups of birds found on these islands, such as lorikeets and fruit doves (only a few insects, reptiles and mammals have made it), it is essentially an extension of the north-eastern Australasian flora and fauna, especially New Guinea and Melanesia.
Class Reptilia
(Palau)Lamprolepis smaragdina, 'Emerald Tree Skink'.
Class Aves: Birds
One of the most successful groups on remote tropical islands are the pigeons and doves.
(in captivity, Fiji)Ptilinopus luteovirens, 'Golden Fruit Dove'. Endemic to Fiji.
The Imperial Pigeons are widespread across islands of the Pacific. They are also one of the best plant seed dispersers.
Ducula latrans, 'Barking/Peale's Imperial Pigeon'. Endemic to Fiji.Family Accipitridae: Hawks, Kites, Eagles
Accipiter rufitorques, 'Fijian Goshawk'. Found in various habitats, but endemic to Fiji. (Colo-I-Suva, Fiji)Family Psittaculidae: Parrots
(Colo-I-Suva, Fiji)Prosopeia personata, 'Masked Shining Parrot'. Endemic to Fiji.
Family Meliphagidae: Honeyeaters
Honeyeaters have dispersed out into many Pacific islands from their centre in Australasia.
Myzomela rubratra, 'Micronesian Myzomela'. Found in northern Mariana islands. (Palau Royal Resort gardens)Foulehaio spp.'(Fiji) Wattled Honeyeaters'
There are three species in this genus. They are found on the islands of Fiji, with one species extending into Polynesia.
Probably Foulehaio procerior, 'Northern Wattled Honeyeater'. Endemic to main island of Fiji.
(Colo-I-Suva, Fiji)
Foulehaio carunculatus, 'Eastern Wattled Honeyeater'. Found in the rainforest and mangroves of Fiji. (Fulaga, Fiji)Family Campephagidae: Cuckoo-shrikes
(Colo-I-Suva resort, Fiji)Lalage maculosa, 'Polynesian Triller'.
The Starlings have colonised and speciated on some island groups. Mynahs have been introduced and thrive on these empty niche islands.
Aplonis opaca, 'Micronesian Starling'. Found in Micronesia, including northern Mariana islands. (Palau Royal Resort gardens)
Acridotheres fuscus, 'Jungle Mynah'. Closely related and resembles Javan Mynah. Introduced from India into Fiji and other islands. (Colo-I-Suva resort, Fiji)Class Mammalia
(Neiafu, Tonga)Order Chiroptera
Family Pteropodidae
(Palau)Pteropus pelewensis, 'Pelew Flying Fox/Fruit Bat'. Infamously included in a 'fruit bat soup' in Micronesia.
(Fruit bat mom with young attached, Palau)Pteropus tonganus , 'Insular/Pacific Flying Fox'. It is found in rainforest, mangroves and around human habitation. It is the most geographically widespread of all the flying fox in the Pacific; being recorded in New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Wallis & Futuna and Fiji.
Places to experience Oceanic Pacific Island rainforest
Countries, islands, resorts, and national parks that have rainforest in the Pacific islands of Oceania include: French Polynesia, Palau, and the Pitcairn Islands.