Palau
Birds
found nowhere
else include the Palau Fruit Dove (IBC),
the Palau Scops Owl (Theme
Birds on Stamps), the Giant White-eye (Theme
Birds on Stamps), the Palau Swiftlet (Theme
Birds on Stamps), the Palau Bush-warbler (Theme
Birds on Stamps), the Palau Fantail or Melimdeleb (palau.biodiv-chm.org),
and the Morning Bird (Theme
Birds on Stamps). Other endemic birds sometimes
considered distinct species include the Palau Ground-dove Gallicolumba canifrons
(Theme
Birds on Stamps), the Mangrove Flycatcher Myiagra erythrops (Theme
Birds on Stamps), and the Dusky White-eye Zosterops finschii (IBC).
Mammals unique to Palau are the Palau Fruit Bat Pteropus pelewensis
(fruitbat.jp)
and the extinct Large Palau Flying Fox Pteropus pilosus (IUCN Red List).
An
endemic amphibian is the Palau Frog (AmphibiaWeb).
Reptiles known solely from Palau include the Palauan Slender
Gecko Hemiphyllodactylus
ganoklonis (p. 41 of Smithsonian
pdf file), the
Palauan Web-Toed Gecko Gehyra
(or Hemidactylus)
brevipalmata
(SysTax),
the Rock Islands Scaly-toed Gecko Lepidodactylus
paurolepis (Reptile
Database), the Pandanus Skink Lipinia leptosoma (Reptile
Database), a snake-eyed skink Cryptoblepharus (or
Ablepharus)
rutilus (SysTax),
a skink Sphenomorphus
(or Lygosoma)
scutatus (SysTax),
and the Palau Blind Snake Ramphotyphlops
(or Typhlops)
acuticauda (SysTax).
The Palau Bevelnosed Boa Candoia
superciliosa (ARKive)
is sometimes considered a full species distinct from the more
widespread Candoia
paulsoni.
Marine fishes known only from Palau include the Orange-striped Wrasse Cirrhilabrus earlei
(Reefs.org),
the Dabra Goby Feia
dabra (FishBase),
the Needlespine Coral Goby Gobiodon
acicularis (eol),
the recently described Helen Reef Pygmy Goby Trimma hotsarihiensis
(flickr),
a collared wriggler Paraxenisthmus
cerberusi (FishBase),
a cardinalfish Apogon
dianthus (Morphbank),
a sole Aseraggodes
firmisquamis (p. 12 of Univ.
Guam pdf file),
and the Deep Blue Chromis Chromis
abyssus (IISE).
The False Saddled Snake Eel Evips
percinctus (Internet
Archive) is an endemic genus. A recently discovered eel Protoanguilla palau
(ScienceDaily)(YouTube),
known from a single fringing-reef cave, is the sole member of a new
family, the Protoanguillidae.
Insects restricted to Palau include the longhorned beetles Demonax palauanus (Smithsonian)
and Olenecamptus
beardsleyi (Smithsonian),
a click beetle Melanoxanthus
cracens (p. 39 of Bishop
Musuem pdf file), a darkling beetle Apterophenus dybasi
(p.
53 of Bishop
Musuem pdf file), a leafroller moth Icelita cirrholepida
(Tortricid.net),
an ant Romblonella
palauensis (AntWeb),
and a katydid Oceaniphisis
kororensis (OSF).
Among at least 69 endemic land snails (palau.biodiv-chm.org)
are Partula calypso
(ARKive),
Palaina (or
Pseudopalaina)
inflatula (Bishogai),
and Palaina albata
(p.
27 of Tentacle
pdf file). An endemic subspecies of Golden Jellyfish Mastigias papua etpisoni
(CRRF
pdf file) is found in marine lakes. Endemic marine invertebrates
include the Palau Nautilus Nautilus
belauensis (Wikipedia),
a coral Sinularia
babeldaobensis (p. 10 of Zool.
Med. Leiden pdf file), a mud shrimp Espeleonaushonia palauensis
(cavebiology.com
pdf file), and a snapping shrimp Salmoneus
colinorum (AToL
Decapoda pdf file).
Among 130 vascular plant species exclusive to Palau (Univ.
Guam pdf file) are the palms Hydriastele palauensis
(flickr)
and Ponapea
palauensis (Exploring
for Plants), Bikkia
palauensis (flickr),
Ophiorrhiza palauensis
(Plants
on Post Stamps), Manilkara
udoido (p. 2 of palauconservation.org
pdf file), Horsfieldia
palauensis (NYBG),
Claoxylon longiracemosum
(JSTOR),
Hedyotis cornifolia
(NYBG), Buchanania palawensis
(BGBM),
Parkia parvifoliola
(TAI),
Sterculia palauensis
(NYBG),
Pandanus aimiriikensis
(NYBG),
Myrsine palauensis
(BGBM),
Osmoxylon oliveri
(JSTOR),
Goniothalmus carolinensis
(NYBG),
Cyrtandra todaiensis
(JSTOR), and several orchids: Malaxis setipes (BGBM),
Dendrobium patentifiliforme
(TAI),
Taeniophyllum palawense
(BGBM),
Phreatia kanehirae (TAI),
and Robiquetia
palawensis (Harvard).
Palau comprises the Palau Tropical Moist Forests terrestrial
ecoregion (EoE) and is part of the Polynesia-Micronesia
biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity
Hotspots). For an overview of the natural history of Palau
see the "National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan" (CBD
pdf file).