Vanuatu
Birds
found nowhere
else include the Vanuatu Megapode (VPAI),
the Vanuatu Petrel (Guardian),
the Vanuatu Imperial-pigeon (BirdLife
Int'l), the Tanna Fruit-dove (Theme
Birds on Stamps), the Chestnut-bellied Kingfisher (BirdLife
Int'l), the Vanuatu Honeyeater
(IBC),
the Yellow-fronted White-eye (IBC),
the Royal Parrotfinch (ARKive),
and the Santo Mountain Starling (BirdLife
Int'l). The Buff-bellied Monarch (WTEC)
is an endemic genus.
Mammals unique to Vanuatu include the Vanuatu Flying Fox Pteropus anetianus (ARKive)
and the Banks Flying Fox Pteropus fundatus (p. 14 of AMNH
Digital Library 8 MB pdf file).
Endemic
reptiles include the Sanford's Emo Skink Emoia sanfordi (WTEC),
the Black-bordered Emo Skink Emoia
nigromarginata
(Internet
Archive),
Medway's Emo Skink Emoia
aneityumensis (BHL),
the Vanuatu Scaly-toed Gecko Lepidodactylus
vanuatuensis (Reptile
Database) and a recently described gecko Lepidodactylus buleli
(Reptile
Database).
Freshwater fish restricted to Vanuatu include the gobies Stiphodon astilbos (Ryan
Photographic pdf file), Stiphodon
kalfatak (MNHN
pdf file), Sicyopterus
aiensis (MNHN
pdf file), Akihito
vanuatu (FishBase),
and Schismatogobius
vanuatuensis (MNHN
pdf file). Endemic marine fish include a new undescribed perchlet from
Espiritu Santo in the genus Plectranthias
(IRD),
a new species of tilefish in the genus Hoplolatilus (IRD),
the Sharpnosed Coralbrotula Paradiancistrus
acutirostris (FishBase),
a flounder Engyprosopon
vanuatuensis (FishBase),
and a duckbill eel Nettenchelys
paxtoni (FishBase).
Invertebrates known solely from Vanuatu include the butterflies Polyura sacco (EntomID-PNG)
and Papilio hypsicles
(GloBIS),
a hawk moth Gnathothlibus
saccoi (BOLD),
a damselfly Vanuatubasis
santoensis (p. 6 of MNHN
pdf file), the bees Homalictus
tannaensis (Atlas
Hymenoptera) and
Lasioglossum vanuatu (p. 6
of MNHN
pdf file), the katydids Phisis
pseudopallida
(OSF)
and Salomona magnifica
(OSF),
several cricket species (MNHN
pdf file), a termite Cryptotermes
penaoru (ZooKeys),
a lace bug Idiocysta
vanuatuensis (p. 4 of EJE
pdf file), the weevils Microcryptorhynchus
squamicollis and Microcryptorhynchus cheesmanae (p. 3
of Bishop
Museum pdf file), a mayfly Caenis vanuatensis
(Ephemeroptera Galactica
pdf file), a scorpion Lychas
santoensis (p. 4 of MNHN
pdf file), and a millipede Eutrichodesmus
communicans (ZooKeys).
A rich endemic land mollusc fauna includes a slug Semperula solemi (BHL)
and several snails: Partula
milleri
(fig 8 at BHL),
Diplomorpha
layardi (b-cabinet),
and Placostylus bicolor
(BHL).
Other endemic invertebrates
include a freshwater snail Fluviopupa
espiritusantoana (p. 7 of INPN
pdf file), a new tree-climbing mangrove crab of the genus Scandarma (IRD),
a new marine crab of the genus Liagore
(IRD),
an undescribed mantis shrimp of the genus Neoanchisquilla (IRD),
a sea slug Pseudunela
espiritusanta (MNHN
pdf file), a starfish Iconaster
vanuatuensis (p. 19 of MNHN
pdf file), a bryozoan Drepanophora
gutta (bryozoa.net),and
a crinoid Capillaster
squarrosus (p. 6 of MNHN
pdf file).
Vascular plant species exclusive to Vanuatu include several palms such
as Caryota ophiopellis
(PACSOA),
Veitchia arecina
(PACSOA),
Clinostigma
harlandii (PACSOA),
Heterospathe
uniformis (IPS
pdf file),
and an endemic genus Carpoxylon
macrospermum (ARKive).
Endemic orchids include Dendrobium
pseudorarum (IOPSE),
Dendrobium
mooreanum (Prof.
Summer's Web Garden),
and Malaxis
iwashinae (Prof.
Summer's Web Garden). Other endemic plants include
the Variegated Clown Fig Ficus
aspera (TopTropicals.com),
Gardenia tannaensis
(JSTOR),
Psychotria
aneityensis (JSTOR),
Schefflera
vanuatu and Geissois
denhamii
(both on p. 32 of SNF
6 MB pdf file), Polyscias
schmidii (p. 27 of IRD
3 MB pdf file), the Santo Kauri Agathis
silbae (flickr),
Cyrtandra efatensis
(JSTOR),
Ixora aneityensis
(NYBG),
Claoxylon
psilogyne (JSTOR), Alpinia nidus-vespae
(JSTOR),
and Kermadecia lutea
(NYBG).
Vanuatu is included in the Vanuatu Rain Forests terrestrial
ecoregion (EoE)
and the East
Melanesian Islands biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity
Hotspots). For more information on the endemic
species of Vanuatu see the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (CBD
pdf file).