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.
Threatened Species Factsheet No. 1
2 pages. pdf
VESS
Dugongs are herbivores (plant-eaters) that feed mostly on seagrass, up to 40 Kg every day. Female dugongs have their first calf when they are between 7 and 17 years. The have calves every 2 - 5 years depending on the quality and quantity of the seagrass available. If there is not much seagrass the time between calves will be longer the females will mature and have their first calf later. They live in many countries in the Pacific and Indian ocean basins. They can be found in coastal regions of the tropics and sub-tropics, usually found where there is seagrass in shallow calm
Threatened Species Factsheet No. 4
2pages. pdf
VESS
These are micro-bats that use sonar to find their food (echolocation). They eat insects and can be seen flying around to catch them in coconut groves, on farmland, in forests and even over the sea, near to the coast. They are found on Malo and Santo but their biggest population is in Fiji. Not very much is know about them. They roost in large numbers often thousands, inside caves. They breed seasonally with the young being born around December.
Threatened Species Factsheet No. 3
2 pages. pdf
VESS
In Vanuatu they are found on Ambae, Aneityum, Efate, Emae, Erromango, Gaua, Malakula, Malo, Mota Lava, Espirito Santo and Tanna. They roost in caves in large colonies and come out to feed in the forests or in gardens. They eat lowers and fruits and can travel to different areas depending on what is flowering in which season.
Threatened Species Factsheet No. 2
2 pages. PDF
VESS
These are small fruit bats. They are endemic to Vanuatu and are only found on Mota and Vanua Lava in the Banks group. They roost in trees individually or in small groups. We don’t know much about their biology or ecology because they haven’t been studied very much by scientists. They have been seen feeding on coconut flowers and the fruit of Vaveli tree.
Threatened Species Factsheet No. 22
2 pages. PDF
VESS
This tree is in the palm family. The Montgomery Palm was once thought to be a separate species but now botanists think that it belongs to the Veitchia arecina species. Montgomery palms grow as tall canopy trees at low altitudes often in shallow soil, on coral substratum or close to rivers and streams. They are also found in lowland rainforests up to 350m in elevation.
Threatened Species Factsheet No. 24
2 pages. PDF
VESS
Voutmélé palms small palms endemic to the Cumberland Peninsula on Santo. This species has relatively small individuals and grows in small colonies. It commonly grows between 900m - 1200m elevation and in volcanic soils.
A Report for the MESCAL Project, IUCN Oceania Office, Suva
Report No. 12/13
November 2012
This report documents and reviews the results of plant diversity surveys of mangrove vegetation
conducted during 2012 by Dr Norm Duke in collaboration with five MESCAL country teams in
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. Work in each country involved team training,
support and consultation, as well as the compilation and preliminary review of data gathered.
2) Data presented in this report includes species keys and checklists for each country, noting a
number of significant new discoveries for most. Success was measured not only by these new