Samoa
Birds found nowhere
else include the Samoan Flycatcher (Surfbirds), the Samoan Fantail (Surfbirds),
the Samoan Whistler (Samoa
Biodiversity), the Samoan Triller (Google Books),
the
Samoan White-eye (BirdLife
Int'l), and the Mao (ARKive). The Samoan Moorhen (Naturalis)
has long been thought extinct, but possible recent sightings suggest
that it may still survive (BirdLife
Int'l). The Flat-billed Kingfisher Todiramphus recurvirostris
(ZMA)
and Red-headed Parrotfinch Erythrura
cyaneovirens (Erythrura)
are considered to represent distinct endemic species by some
authorities. The Tooth-billed Pigeon or Manumea (IDS)
represents an endemic genus.
A recently described mammal is the flying fox Pteropus allenorum (p. 6 of AMNH
Digital Library 8 MB pdf file) which is known from a single
specimen collected in 1856 on Upolu and is presumed extinct.
Land snails unique to Samoa include Samoana stevensoniana
(Samoan
Land Snails), Eua
expansa (Samoan
Land Snails), Succinea
putamen (Samoan
Land Snails), Lamprocystis
perpolita (Samoan
Land Snails), and Pleuropoma
plicatilis (Samoan
Land Snails). Endemic arthropods include the butterflies Hypolimnas errabunda and Phalanta exulans (both on p. 12 of CI pdf file), a hawk
moth Gnathothlibus
samoaensis (p. 6 of Australian Museum pdf file), a katydid
Phisis parapallida
(OSF),
an ant Adelomyrmex
samoanus (Harvard),
a burrowing bug Peltoscytus
samoanus (Opole
Univ. pdf file), and a jumping spider Rarahu nitida (Salticidae
of the World).
Plant species exclusive to Samoa include the palms Clinostigma samoense (ARKive),
Metroxylon
paulcoxii (p. 4 of Agroforestry
Net pdf file), and an endemic genus, Solfia samoensis (Palm
Specialist Group). Other endemic plants include the orchids Corybas betchei (p. 174 of CI pdf file) and Taeniophyllum savaiiense (p. 197 of CI pdf file),
Trichosanthes reineckeana (p. 95 of CI pdf file), Psychotria bristolii (p. 140 of CI pdf file), Manilkara samoensis (p. 151 of CI pdf file), Sarcopygme intermedia
(JSTOR),
Joinvillea bryanii
(p. 47 of botany.hawaii.edu
5 MB pdf file), Hoya
attenuata (JSTOR), Acronychia
boweriana (NYBG),
Melicope sulcata (JSTOR),
Metrosideros
gregoryi (NYBG),
Peperomia
christophersenii (NYBG),
Medusanthera
ovalifolia (NYBG), Meryta
malietoa (UCJEPS),
Scaevola nubigena
(NYBG),
Abutilon whistleri (BGBM),
Cyrtandra nitens
(BGBM),
Pittosporum
samoense (NYBG),
and Rapanea longipes (JSTOR).
Samoa is part of the Polynesia-Micronesia
biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity
Hotspots) and, along with American
Samoa, comprises the Samoan Tropical Moist
Forests ecoregion (EoE).
For more details on the plants and animals of Samoa see (Samoa
Biodiversity).