Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat of American Samoa II. Accounts of Flora and Fauna
Amerson AB, Whistler WA, Schwaner TD. 1982. Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat of American Samoa II. Accounts of Flora and Fauna. US Fish & Wildlife Service. Washington, DC
A survey of the status of the terrestrial vertebrate wildlife and the wildlife habitat of American Samoa was conducted from 15 June 1975 to 21 December 1976. Data were collected from 42 study plots representing 16 vegetation communities and habitat types on the seven islands and from 98 linear survey routes. A checklist of plants includes 489 species of which 33 tree species are first reported for American Samoa. Eleven flowering plants are endemic to American Samoa. One amphibian and 15 reptiles occur in American Samoa. The amphibian, Bufo marinus, and a gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus, are recent introductions. The Pacific boa, Candoia bibroni, is first reported from American Samoa, and 37 insular distribution records are reported. In number of individuals, reptiles are the most abundant vertebrates on the islands. The avifauna of American Samoa includes 53 species; the occurrence of 4 others is hypothetical. Four species are reported from a single occurrence, and the listing of seven sea birds is based on sight records of birds flying over or near the islands. Six northern hemisphere shorebirds and one cuckoo are known only as migrants. Two species, Columba Ifvia and Pycnonotus cafer, are introduced; only the latter is well established. One species, Gymnomyzasamoensis, is probably extirpated. The friendly quail-dove, Gallicolumba stalri, is reported from American Samoa for the first time. The mammalian fauna includes two native bats, a third hypothetical species, four introduced mice and rats of which one, Rattus exulans, probably represents an old introduction, and feral pigs.