Published by California Academy of Sciences and the Christensen Research Institute. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences Number 15. 98 p. PDF
The 72 recognized species of the lizard genus Emoia (Scincidae) are described; 13 of these are new: E. coggeri, E. cyclops, E. digul, E. rrianensis, E. jamur, E. paniai, E. brongersmai, E. montana, E. pseudopallidicrps, E. erronan, E. isolata, E. pseudocyanura, and E. rennellensis. Three new subspecies-E. arnornsis nauru, E. atrocostata australis, and E. physicae pupari-are also described. A new status is recognized for eight species or subspecies: E. atrocostata freycineti, E, bogerti, E. maxima, E. obscura, E. oribata, E. pallidiceps mehelyi, E. popei, and E. veracunda.
W. John Tennent
W. John Tennent, Biogeography and Conservation Laboratory, Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK;
email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Nachr. entomol. Ver. Apollo, N.F. 25 (1/2): 79-96 (2004)
Following fieldwork in 2000 and 2002, and examination of museum collections in the UK, Australia and the
USA, a tabulated list (Tab. 3) of the butterfly fauna of the Pacific island State of Vanuatu is presented. The number of
Report to Government of Vanuatu
edited by Philippe Bouchet, Herve Le Guyader, Olivier Pascal. Publications Scientifiques du Museum. IRD Editions. Pro-Natura International.
As an island state, Vanuatu has a biodiversity that is unique in many ways, with many endemic
species of fauna and flora. The Government of Vanuatu, through its Ministry of Lands
and Natural Resources, which is responsible for biodiversity management, has given its full
support to the Santo Global Biodiversity Survey. We, the people of Vanuatu, are grateful to
the expedition team for conducting this research on an island of our country. We live in a
world where development is accelerating to the detriment of the biodiversity. Vanuatu is not
Threatened Species Factsheet No. 6.
Vanuatu Environmental Science Society. 2 pages. PDF
The Vanuatu flying foxes can be found in the same areas as the bigger black flying fox but the black ones tend to boost in large groups in big canopy trees such as the nabanga (banyan) whereas the Vanuatu flying foxes roost in small groups in smaller trees often coconuts. They feed on fruit and flowers of trees such as figs, bananas, breadfruit and coconut. They can be seen flying during the day more often than the other flying foxes in Vanuatu.
Threatened Species Factsheet No. 12
2 pages. PDF
These are small round birds of the forest floor. They are only found in the Solomon Islands (Santa Cruz Islands) and on Santo in Vanuatu. They live in old growth forest, 300-1000m elevation. It is believed the Santa Cruz Ground Dove forages only on the ground, but perches on low branches and roosts in trees. Their diet includes seeds, berries and young shoots it finds when foraging the forest floor, insects and worms. It’s call is a slow series of up to 15 low woop
noises.
Threatened Species Factsheet No. 13
2 pages. PDF
They are medium sized bird found on the highest peaks of Santo island, usually between 1200-1700m elevation. They are reported to nest in holes in trees, low to the ground. The birds have been seen feeding on insects, fruit and seeds. They are usually seen no more than 5m above the forest floor, although occasionally perch in the canopy. They fly quickly and directly in the sub-canopy.
Pocket Guide. PDF
In Vanuatu, the impact of invasive species on the forests and related
biodiversity is evident. The threat and nuisance posed by invasive
species have been a concern for a number of years. However, it is
only more recently that invasive species have been given increased
attention.
Threatened Species Factsheet No. 5
2 pages. pdf
VESS
These are medium-sized microbats that roost in caves. They forage in forests using a special skill called echolocation. They are insectivorous which means they feed only on insects such as moths, butterflies, bees, beetles, ants and termites. These bats may not exist in Vanuatu. The are only 2 records, one from the 18th century and the other a
specimen labeled as from Santo in 1929. It is possible it was not labeled correctly and the bat was actually collected from Fiji, where the bats are more commonly seen.
Threatened Species Factsheet No. 21
2 pages. PDF
Skinks are lizard reptiles. The Anatom Skink lives in undisturbed forest away from humans. It lives in trees, from
rainforest to dry coastal forests on Aneityum island in southern Vanuatu (and it is not found on neighbouring
islands). Females lay about 4-5 eggs at a time and it is thought the females descend to the ground to lay them in the forest floor litter near the base of a tree. Skinks eat small invertebrates (mostly insects) although the diet of this species is largely unknown. It is very difficult to find.