Reunion
Birds
found nowhere
else include the Mascarene Olive White-eye (SEOR), the Reunion
Cuckooshrike (ARKive),
the
Reunion Bulbul (SEOR),
and as breeding species, the Mascarene Petrel (BirdLife
Int'l) and Barau's Petrel (ARKive).
Also
frequently considered full species are
the Reunion Stonechat Saxicola
tectes (SEOR)
and the Reunion Harrier Circus
maillardi (ARKive).
Extinct birds include the Mascarene Parrot (Wikipedia),
Reunion Swamphen (Wikipedia),
and the Reunion Starling (Naturalis).
The extinct Reunion Ibis Threskiornis
solitarius (Extinction
Website) was formerly considered a dodo relative and called
the Reunion Solitaire Raphus
solitarius.
Endemic reptiles include Reunion Island Ornate Day Gecko (NOI)
and several recently extinct species: Reunion Giant Tortoise Cylindraspis indica
(Extinction
Website), the Domed Rodrigues Giant Tortoise Cylindraspis peltastes
(Extinction
Website), a gecko Nactus
soniae and a skink Leiolopisma
ceciliae (both at NOI).
The Reunion House Bat (Mammal
Species of the World) is known only from two
individuals described in 1803 and it is unclear if they actually came
from Reunion. The Reunion Little Mastiff Bat Mormopterus francoismoutoui
(BioOne)
was described in 2008.
Marine fish unique to Reunion include the Reunion Angelfish Apolemichthys guezei
(eol),
a moray eel Channomuraena
bauchotae (IFREMER
pdf file),
a goatfish Parupeneus
posteli (p. 2 of IRD
pdf file),
a combtooth blenny Mimoblennius
lineathorax (FishBase),
and Chromis
durvillei (l'fremer
pdf file).
Butterflies restricted to Reunion include Papilio phorbanta (Rhopalocères
de La Réunion), Euploea goudotii
(Faunuscule
Mascarine), and Neptis
dumetorum
and Salamis augustina
(both at Rhopalocères
de La Réunion). The recently described Glomeremus orchidophilus
is the
world's only cricket known to act as a pollinator (IISE).
Other endemic arthropods include an owlet moth Mythimna
borbonensis (Papillons
de Poitou-Charentes), the hawk moths Cephonodes apus (BOLD)
and Macroglossum milvus
(BOLD),
a rhinoceros beetle Oryctes
borbonicus (fr.wikipedia),
a stag beetle Amneidus
godefroyi (Lucanes du
Monde), a cave-dwelling ground beetle Neocolpodes poussereaui
(p. 4 of regionreunion.com
pdf file), a scarab beetle Gymnogaster
buphthalma (Hannetons),
and a stick insect Apterograeffea
reunionensis (fr.wikipedia).
Land snails known solely from Reunion include Pilula cordemoyi (eol), Omphalotropis
rubens (flickr),
Caldwellia
imperfecta (ARKive),
Gonospira uvula
(fr.wikipedia),
Harmogenanina
argentea (flickr),
Hyalimax maillardi
(fr.wikipedia),
Plegma caelatura
(fr.wikipedia),
and Erepta setiliris
(flickr).
Endemic marine invertebrates include a cone snail Conus jeanmartini (Eddie
Hardy), a deepwater crab Platypilumnus
inermis (biodivreunion.free.fr),
and a king crab Paralomis
stella (biodivreunion.free.fr).
Among over 200 vascular plants exclusive to Reunion are the Champagne
Palm (PACSOA),
the Red Latan Palm (ARKive),
the orchids Habenaria
citrata (Orchidées
Péï)
and Aeranthes
strangulata (CBNM),
Aloe macra
(CBNM),
Acacia heterophylla
(Flore
de la Réunion), Agarista buxifolia (fr.wikipedia),
Erica reunionensis
(CIRAD),
Dombeya ficulnea
(fr.wikipedia),
Cynoglossum
borbonicum (fr.wikipedia),
Chassalia
corallioides (Flore
de la Réunion), Diospyros borbonica
(CBNM),
Cyathea glauca
(CIRAD),
Hubertia tomentosa
(fr.wikipedia),
Indigofera
(or Bremontiera)
ammoxylon
(CBNM),
and Nastus borbonicus
(Flore
de la
Réunion).
Endemic genera include Bonniera
(Orchidstudium),
Forgesia (CIRAD),
Eriotrix (CIRAD),
Heterochaenia
(fr.wikipedia),
Berenice
(CBNM),
and Ruizia
(fr.wikipedia).
Reunion is an overseas region of France,
is included in the Mascarene Forests ecoregion (EoE),
is part of the Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands
biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity
Hotspots), and is included in the Southern Mascarene Islands
coral reef hotspot (Reef
Guardian pdf file).