Pacific Sheath Tailed Bat
The Pacific Sheath-tailed bat is a small nocturnal animal that weighs only 5 grams. It loves to roost in the mouth of cave entrances, but it has also been found roosting beneath overhanging cliffs. This animal has not been studied extensively and for that reason, the exact diet of the Pacific Sheath-tailed bat is unknown. Historically, this animal was found in Samoa, American Samoa, Fiji, Palau, Tonga, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Vanuatu. Today, this animal is no longer found on the islands of Samoa and American Samoa. In Tonga, the last this species was seen, was back in 1989 on the islands of Eua and Niaufoou. The Sheath Tailed Bat was once a common species in areas where it can be found, but the population of the species has been on the decline since 1945. Exact reasons for the decline of the Pacific Sheath-tailed Bat are unknown. Some major threats to this animal are disturbance of roosting sites, pesticide contamination, the loss of native forests to land development, and invasive species. As of today, the only conservation effort made to save this species was through granting full legal protection under the law in Samoa, Guam, and in the Northern Mariana Islands.
The Pacific Sheath-tailed bat is a small nocturnal animal that weighs only 5 grams. It loves to roost in the mouth of cave entrances, but it has also been found roosting beneath overhanging cliffs. This animal has not been studied extensively and for that reason, the exact diet of the Pacific Sheath-tailed bat is unknown. Historically, this animal was found in Samoa, American Samoa, Fiji, Palau, Tonga, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Vanuatu. Today, this animal is no longer found on the islands of Samoa and American Samoa. In Tonga, the last this species was seen, was back in 1989 on the islands of Eua and Niaufoou. The Sheath Tailed Bat was once a common species in areas where it can be found, but the population of the species has been on the decline since 1945. Exact reasons for the decline of the Pacific Sheath-tailed Bat are unknown. Some major threats to this animal are disturbance of roosting sites, pesticide contamination, the loss of native forests to land development, and invasive species. As of today, the only conservation effort made to save this species was through granting full legal protection under the law in Samoa, Guam, and in the Northern Mariana Islands.
The Fiji banded iguana is a tree loving animal that is
native to the islands of Fiji and Tonga, but it has been introduced to the
island of Vanuatu. It reaches up to 24 inches in length and
can weigh up to 200 grams. This iguana is dimorphic, meaning that
males and females differ in physical appearance. During the day, both males and
females forage for leaves, fruits, and shrubs. However, male iguanas also spend their days defending their territories. Male iguanas are known to intensify the color of
their skin in order to seem more threatening to intruding males. The main
threats causing these animals to decline are habitat loss due to
fires, storms, and agricultural development. Introduced predators such as rats,
mongoose, and cats also are a cause in the decline of iguana species.
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Tongan Megapode
The Tongan
megapode is native to the island of Niuafo’ou. This flightless bird
inhabits broadleaved forests. It also forages in open ground areas for worms, seeds, small fruit, and reptiles, and nests in volcanic ash areas. The main reason for
the decline of this species is due to predation by animals and humans. Around
50% of all eggs laid are collected or destroyed, and both adults and chicks are
predated by feral cats and dogs. The only effort to conserve this species was
its listing as a protected species under government law.
Phoenix Petral
The Phoenix
Petrel is a tropical seabird with a wingspan of 33 inches, and is found
throughout the oceans and coastal areas in the Pacific Ocean, specifically, they in French Polynesia, Kiribati, Pitcairn and Fiji. These birds were once found in Tonga, but now
have become regionally extinct there. They form colonies and feed off of squid, fish, and crustaceans. This species is numbered at about 30,000 individuals. Conservation efforts have been
made to help bring back the Phoenix Petrel. The efforts include attracting the
birds to the cat-free Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge. Another effort
being made is to eradicate rats and cats from islands with existing islands.
Tongan Ground Skink:
The Tongan Ground Skink is endemic to Tonga, however, it is believed to be extinct.
Sources
Wikipedia. 2011 May 22. Pacific Sheath-tailed bat, Fiji Banded Iguana, Tongan Megapode, Phoenix Petral, Tongan Ground Skink. Retrieved May 2011 from http://www.wikipedia.org/.
. The IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species. 2011 May 15. Pacific Sheath-tailed bat, Fiji Banded Iguana, Tongan Megapode, Phoenix Petral, Tongan Ground Skink. Retrieved May 2011 from http://www.iucnredlist.org/.
