Endemic Animals of French Polynesia

The Pacific swallow (Hirundo tahitica ) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It breeds in tropical southern Asia and the islands of the south Pacific. It is resident apart from some local seasonal movements. This bird is associated with coasts, but is increasingly spreading to forested uplands. The hill swallow was formerly considered conspecific.This species is a small swallow at 13 cm. It has a blue-black back and crown with ...
browner wings and tail, a red face and throat, and dusky underparts. It differs from the barn swallow and the closely related welcome swallow in its shorter and less forked tail.The Pacific swallow builds a neat cup-shaped nest, constructed with mud pellets collected in the beak, under a cliff ledge or on man-made structures such as a building, bridge or tunnel. The nest is lined with softer material, and the clutch is two to three eggs. It is similar in behaviour to other aerial insectivores, such as other swallows and the unrelated swifts. It is a fast flyer and feeds on insects, especially flies, while airborne. Less

The ultramarine lorikeet (Vini ultramarina ) is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae, endemic to the Marquesas Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest and plantations. It is threatened mainly by introduction of the black rat and also by deforestation. Less

The Polynesian ground dove (Pampusana erythroptera ) is a critically endangered species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Tuamotus in French Polynesia with recent records from the atolls of Matureivavao, Rangiroa, Tenararo, Morane, Vahanga and perhaps Tikehau. It favors tropical forests, especially with Pandanus tectorius, Pisonia grandis and shrubs, but it has also been recorded from dense shrub growing below coconut palms. ...
It is threatened by habitat loss and predation by introduced species such as cats and rats. The total population is estimated to be around 100-120 birds and it has already disappeared from several islands where it formerly occurred. Less

The atoll fruit dove (Ptilinopus coralensis ) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Tuamotu archipelago in French Polynesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and plantations. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The Niau kingfisher (Todiramphus gertrudae ) is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is endemic to the island of Niau in French Polynesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, plantations and rural gardens. Only 125 individuals remain in the wild.The Niau kingfisher is a multicolored, with bright blue feathers, a dusty orange head, and a bright green back. The entire population of these birds lives in Niau, ...
and without serious intervention, they will likely become extinct.In new studies published in the journal The Auk (published by the American Ornithologists Union) and the Journal of Wildlife Management, Kesler and his team of researchers have uncovered important information to help ensure the birds' survival and a unique way to attach radio transmitters to the birds to track them."Unfortunately, even with all our work to date, the population is still crashing," Kesler said. "We're seeing some turnover, but each year when we return, there are more empty territories and the population decreases. At this rate, these birds will be gone within our lifetime."The introduction of other competitive species (such as felis silvestres catus) into the kingfishers habitat led to their decrease in population because of competition for the same food sources. Removal of the new species would likely result in a recovery of the Kingfisher population, at least in the most populated areas. Less

The Iphis monarch (Pomarea iphis ), or Ua Huka flycatcher, is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, and plantations. Less

The Rapa shearwater (Puffinus myrtae ), is a rare seabird of the tropics from the family Procellariidae. It breeds on the surrounding islets of Rapa in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia where it is known locally as the kaki kaki.The Rapa shearwater was first described in 1959 as a subspecies of the little shearwater. The holotype was later found to be a juvenile and an adult specimen was described in 2017.A 2015 genetic study using DNA ...
sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, found that the Rapa shearwater is sister to a clade containing the Hawaiian shearwater (Puffinus newelli ) and the little shearwater (Puffinus assimilis ). Morphological data supports this relationship but the Rapa shearwater is much smaller than the other two species.Not much is known about its decline. It most likely once occurred on Rapa itself, though this population has been extirpated by the polynesian rat, feral goats, and feral cats. Less

The Marquesan monarch (Pomarea mendozae ) is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The Huahine starling (Aplonis diluvialis ) is an extinct bird from the genus Aplonis within the starling family, Sturnidae. It was endemic to the island of Huahine, in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, and therefore had the easternmost distribution of all Aplonis species in the Pacific region. Less

The Nuku Hiva rail (Gallirallus epulare ) is an extinct species of flightless bird in the Rallidae, or rail family. Less

The Ua Huka rail (Gallirallus gracilitibia ) is an extinct species of flightless bird in the Rallidae, or rail family. Less

The Tahuata rail (Gallirallus roletti ) is an extinct species of flightless bird in the Rallidae, or rail family. Less

The Huahine rail (Gallirallus storrsolsoni ) was a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It was a medium-sized Gallirallus rail endemic to Huahine in the Society Islands of French Polynesia. It is known only from subfossil remains found at the Fa'ahia archaeological site on the island. Fa'ahia is an early Polynesian occupation site with radiocarbon dates ranging from 700 CE to 1200 CE. The rail is only one of a suite of birds found at the site ...
which became extinct either locally or globally following human occupation of the island. Less

The Marquesas cuckoo-dove (Macropygia heana ), also referred to as the Marquesan cuckoo-dove, is an extinct species of bird in the pigeon family. It was endemic to the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. It was described from subfossil bones recovered from the Hane archaeological site on the island of Ua Huka. The cuckoo-dove was a relatively large species, with long legs; its limb proportions suggesting a more terrestrial lifestyle than its ...
congeners. The dove's extinction occurred either upon or shortly after the colonisation of the islands by ancient Polynesians. Less

The Tubuai rail (Gallirallus steadmani ) is an extinct species of flightless bird in the Rallidae, or rail family. Less

The Marquesan imperial pigeon (Ducula galeata ), also known as the Nukuhiva pigeon or Upe, is a pigeon which is endemic to Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. This pigeon is only found in some valleys in the western part of that island. Less

The Tuamotu sandpiper (Prosobonia parvirostris ) is an endangered member of the large wader family Scolopacidae, that is endemic to the Tuamotu Islands in French Polynesia. It is sometimes placed in the monotypic genus Aechmorhynchus. A native name, apparently in the Tuamotuan language, is kivi-kivi. Less

The Rapa fruit dove (Ptilinopus huttoni) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae, which includes pigeons and doves. It is endemic to the island of Rapa Iti in French Polynesia. The species was classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List in 2018 because of its small population and predicted continued decline. The Rapa fruit dove primarily feeds on fleshy fruit. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland ...
forests and it has an extent of 30 km2. It is threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation and invasive species. Effective land protection and management could increase the quality of habitat for the species. Additional research into population dynamics and the impact of threats to the species can give a better understanding of the conservation practices needed. Less

The Polynesian imperial pigeon (Ducula aurorae ) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The Tahiti monarch (Pomarea nigra ), or Tahiti flycatcher, is a rare species of bird in the monarch flycatcher family. It is endemic to Tahiti in French Polynesia. There are between 25 and 100 individuals remaining with an increasing population trend. Less

The white-capped fruit dove (Ptilinopus dupetithouarsii ) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It was described by French naturalist and surgeon Adolphe-Simon Neboux in 1840. It is endemic to the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia. The name honours French admiral and botanist Abel Aubert du Petit-Thouars. Less

The grey-green fruit dove (Ptilinopus purpuratus ) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Society Islands in French Polynesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Less

The Makatea fruit dove (Ptilinopus chalcurus ) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia island of Makatea in the Tuamotu Archipelago. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and is also present near villages. This bird is approximately 20 cm tall and has plumage of mostly green feathers with a dark purple crown and forehead, pale greenish-grey throat and chest, cloven lower ...
chest feathers producing rows of shadows that appear as streaks, yellow underparts, tinged orange anteriorly. The bird's wing feathers are edged yellow. While it continues to be threatened by habitat loss, a decrease in mining since the mid 1960s has helped re-vegetation and appears to have stabilized population numbers. Less

The Marquesan ground dove (Pampusana rubescens ) is a bird species in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.It was formerly classified as endangered by the IUCN.This species was formerly in the genus Alopecoenas Sharpe, 1899, but the name of the genus was changed in 2019 to Pampusana Bonaparte, 1855 as this name has ...
priority. Less

The Huahine gull (Chroicocephalus utunui ), also known as the Society Islands gull, is an extinct bird, a species of gull of which subfossil bones were found at the Fa'ahia archeological site on Huahine, in the Society Islands of French Polynesia.The site is an early Polynesian occupation site dating to between 700 CE and 1200 CE, containing, as well as anthropogenic material, the remains of many species of birds now either globally or locally ...
extinct, that were killed for their flesh, bones or feathers. The gull was described (as Larus utunui ) from 12 bones from two individual birds. Osteological similarities suggest that the nearest living relative of the Huahine gull is the silver gull (C. novaehollandiae ), the nearest extant populations of which are in New Zealand, 3,800 km south-west of Huahine. Less

The Mangareva kingfisher (Todiramphus gambieri ), also known as Tuamotu kingfisher, is a species of kingfisher in the family Alcedinidae, endemic to Niau in French Polynesia. It is classified as critically endangered. Less

Moorea reed warbler (Acrocephalus longirostris ) is a species of songbird in the genus Acrocephalus. Formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage (Sylviidae), it is now in the newly recognized marsh warbler family Acrocephalidae. It was once considered a subspecies of the Tahiti reed warbler. Less

The Fatu Hiva monarch (Pomarea whitneyi ) is a large flycatcher in the family Monarchidae. It is endemic to Fatu Hiva in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. It lives in the native dense forest at elevations up to 2300 feet. Adults are a glossy purplish-black with plush-like feathers on their foreheads and grow to around 7 ½ inches. Less

The Society kingfisher or Tahiti kingfisher (Todiramphus veneratus ) is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. Less

The Tahiti reed warbler (Acrocephalus caffer ) is a songbird in the genus Acrocephalus. It used to be placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage (Sylviidae), but is now in the newly recognized marsh warbler family Acrocephalidae. It is endemic to the island of Tahiti.Most taxonomists regard Garrett's reed warbler and the Moorea reed warbler as distinct. They used to be considered subspecies.As a whole, the Tahiti reed warbler was classified as ...
a vulnerable species by the IUCN. Less

The Marquesan swiftlet (Aerodramus ocistus ) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Less

The northern Marquesan reed warbler (Acrocephalus percernis ) is a species of Old World warbler in the family Acrocephalidae. It was formerly considered conspecific with the southern Marquesan reed warbler, and together known as the Marquesan reed warbler.It is found on the northern Marquesas Islands.Subspecies are listed as follows: Eiao Marquesan warbler, Acrocephalus mendanae aquilonis Hatutu Marquesan warbler, Acrocephalus mendanae ...
postremus Nukuhiva Marquesan warbler, Acrocephalus mendanae percernis Uahuka Marquesan warbler, Acrocephalus mendanae idae Less

The southern Marquesan reed warbler (Acrocephalus mendanae ) is a species of Old World warbler in the family Acrocephalidae.It was formerly considered conspecific with the northern Marquesan reed warbler, and together known as the Marquesan reed warbler.It is found only on the southern Marquesan Islands.Subspecies include:Uapou Marquesan warbler, Acrocephalus mendanae dido nominate ( Hiva Oa, Tahuata), Acrocephalus mendanae mendanae Mohotani ...
Marquesan warbler, Acrocephalus mendanae consobrina Fatuhiva Marquesan warbler, Acrocephalus mendanae fatuhivae Less

The Huahine swamphen (Porphyrio mcnabi ) was a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It was a small swamphen endemic to Huahine in the Society Islands of French Polynesia. It is known only from subfossil remains found at the Fa'ahia archaeological site on the island. Fa'ahia is an early Polynesian occupation site with radiocarbon dates ranging from 700 CE to 1200 CE. The swamphen is only one of a suite of birds found at the site which became ...
extinct either locally or globally following human occupation of the island. Less

The Tuamotu reed warbler (Acrocephalus atyphus ) is a species of Old World warbler in the family Acrocephalidae.It is found only in French Polynesia. Less

The Huahine cuckoo-dove (Macropygia arevarevauupa ) is an extinct species of bird in the family Columbidae. It was endemic to French Polynesia where subfossil bones between 750 and 1250 years old have been found at the Fa'ahia early occupation site on Huahine in the Society Islands. Less

The Rimatara reed warbler (Acrocephalus rimitarae ) is a species of Old World warbler in the family Acrocephalidae.It is found only in Rimatara in French Polynesia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and swamps. Due to its limited geographic distribution, this bird is classified as critically endangered on The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Less

Conasprella dieteri is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.Like all species within the genus Conasprella, these snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all. Less

Conus marchionatus, common name the Marquesas cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.Like all species within the genus Conus, these snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all. Less

Punctoterebra arabella is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Terebridae, the auger snails. Less

Conus encaustus, common name the burnt cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.Like all species within the genus Conus, these snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all. Less

Conus luteus, the mud cone, is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails, cone shells or cones.The subspecies Conus luteus richardsae Röckel & Korn, 1992 has been raised to species level as Conus richardsae Röckel & Korn, 1992 Less