Tag Archives: Fiji

Lauopa mbalavuana Solem

Lauopa Snail (Lauopa mbalavuana)

This species, the only one in its genus, was described in 1983 based on material that had been collected in 1938 under logs and stones in a dense forest on a limestone hill on the island of Vanua Balavu, Fiji.

As far as I know only two specimens were ever found and both of them appeared to have rather been in a subfossil state; this species almost certainly is extinct. [1]

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References:

[1] Alan Solem: Endodontoid land snails from Pacific Islands (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Sigmurethra). Part II, Families Punctidae and Charopidae, Zoogeography. Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, Illinois 1983

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edited: 21.08.2022

Aglaia fragilis A. C. Sm.

Fragile Aglaia (Aglaia fragilis)  

The Fragile Aglaia was described in 1942, it is known exclusively from the type material that had been collected one year prior to its description allegedly near the summit of Mt. Nanggaranambuluta, which probably is today’s Mt. Lomalangi in the Nadarivatu region in the northern part of Viti Levu, Fiji. [1]

The species was never found since and is considered extinct. 

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Referenzen:  

[1] Albert C. Smith: Flora Vitiensis Nova: A new flora of Fiji (Spermatophytes only). Vol. 3. Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii 1985

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edited: 04.09.2019

Levuana iridescens Bethune-Baker

Levuana Moth (Levuana iridescens)

The Levuana Moth was described in 1906; it is only known from the island of Viti Levu, Fiji; it is, however, almost certainly not native and more likely originates from some place west to the Fijian Islands, maybe Vanuatu.

the species has a wingspan of about 1.6 cm; its head and the thorax are steely blue; the abdomen is ochreous; the forewings are iridescent blue and somewhat subhyaline, so are the hind wings.

The larvae feed upon the leaves of coconut palms (Cocos nucifera L.) and therefore, the Levuana Moth was considered a serious pest for Coconut plantations and thus for the copra production.

Because of that, a biological control program was started in 1925 to solve the problem, this involved the introduction of the Malayan Tachinid Fly (Bessa remota (Aldrich)) and was a total ‘success’ as it led to the complete extinction of the moth species.

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Depiction from: PaDIL
https://www.padil.gov.au
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en 

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edited: 17.02.2024

Volia athollandersoni Molnar, Worthy & Willis

Fijian Terrestrial Crocodile (Volia athollandersoni)

The Fijian Terrestrial Crocodile was described in 2002 based on numerous fossil or subfossil remains that were excavated on the island of Viti Levu. It was a member of the Mekosuchinae, a now extinct subfamily of rather strange, smaller crocodylians most of which were terrestrial animals and some obviously even tree-dwellers.

The Fijian species reached a size of 2 to 3 m and thus was the largest terrestrial carnivore and most likely preyed upon other large reptiles like iguanas and birds.

The Fijian Terrestrial Crocodile very likely was a favorite hunting target of the first humans and was soon completely eradicated. [1]

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References:

[1] R. E. Molnar; T. Worthy; P. M. A. Willis: An extinct Pleistocene endemic Mekosuchine Crocodylian from Fiji. Journal of Vertebrate Paelontology 22(3): 612-628. 2002

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edited: 04.10.2020

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae ssp. ‘Fiji’

Undetermined Fijian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae ssp.)

This form is known only from subfossil bones that were recovered from deposits on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji. [1]

***

This might be identical with the Solomon Islands Tricolored Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis ssp. collaris (Mayr)), which is the form closest geographically, or it might have been an endemic subspecies or species.

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References: 

[1] David W. Steadman: Extinction and Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds. University of Chicago Press 2006

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edited: 07.05.2021

Vitirallus watlingi T. H. Worthy

Viti Levu Rail (Vitirallus watlingi)

The Viti Levu Rail was described in 2004 based on subfossil remains collected from cave deposits on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji.

The species was flightless, it reached about the same size as the likewise extinct Bar-winged Rail (Gallirallus poecilopterus (Hartlaub)) but had a distinctly elongated beak. [1]

The Viti Levu Rail probably disappeared sometimes after the Fijian Islands were settled by humans some 3000 to 4000 years before present, it is, however, quite possible that this species might have survived into the time of the first appearance of Europeans even when there is yet no evidence for that.

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References:

[1] Trevor H. Worthy: The fossil rails (Aves: Rallidae) of Fiji with descriptions of a new genus species. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 34 (3): 295–314. 2004

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edited: 16.09.2020

Cincloramphus rufus ssp. cluniei (Kinsky)

Vanua Levu Long-legged Thicketbird (Cincloramphus rufusssp. cluniei)

The Long-legged Thicketbird (Cincloramphus rufus (Reichenow)) is restricted to the Fijian Islands, where it is known to inhabit the two largest islands, Vanua Levu and Viti Levu.

The subspecies from Vanua Levu, which differs from the nominate race by its larger white areas, is known only from a specimen that was found in 1974; it was never found again and appears to be extinct. [1] 

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References:

[1] F. C. Kinsky: A new subspecies of the Long-legged Warbler, Trichocichla rufa Reichenow, from Vanua Levu, Fiji. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 95(3): 98-101. 1975

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edited: 07.05.2021

Charmosyna amabilis (Ramsay)

Red-throated Lorikeet (Charmosyna amabilis)  

This small, mainly green colored bird is deemed to be the rarest parrot of the Fiji Islands, where it formerly inhabited the islands of Ovalau, Taveuni, Vanua Levu, and Viti Levu.  

The Red-throated Lorikeet reached a size of 18 cm, its biology is virtually unknown, the same applies to its breeding behavior, the size of the clutch and similar data. The species is, resp. was known to the natives of the Fijian islands by several names, including Mihi (?), Kula, Kulawai, and Talaki ni medra wai na kula.  

The Red-throated Lorikeet was last found only in the higher regions at Mt. Tomanivi on the island of Viti Levu, the largest of the Fijian Islands, where it was last recorded in the year 1993, it is now most probably extinct. [1][2][3][4]

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References:  

[1] E. L. Layard: Notes on the Birds of the Navigators’ and Friendly Islands, with some Additions to the Ornithology of Fiji. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 490-506. 1876 
[2] H. Douglas Pratt, Phillip L. Bruner, Delwyn G. Berrett: A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton University Press 1987 
[3] Tony Juniper; Mike Parr: Parrots; A Guide to Parrots of the World. Yale University Press 1998 
[4] David W. Steadman: Extinction and Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds. University Of Chicago Press 2006

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Depiction from: ‘G. D. Rowley: The Birds of the Fiji Islands. Ornithological Miscellany 1: 259-262. 1876’  

(public domain)

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edited: 12.02.2020

Succinea rotumana Smith

Rotuma Amber Snail (Succinea rotumana)

The Rotuma Amber Snail is endemic is to the island of Rotuma, Fiji, including at least one of the offshore islets.

The species was described in 1897 based on six specimens that were collected on the island of Rotuma, another specimen was collected in 1938 on the offshore islet of Uea, this is also the last record for this species, that now is considered most likely extinct.

There is, however, the chance that the species indeed survives on Uea or one of the other offshore islets.

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References:

[1] Gilianne Brodie; Gary M. Bakker; Froseann Stevens; Monifa Fiu: Preliminary re-survey of the land snail fauna of Rotuma: conservation and biosecurity implications. Pacific Conservation Biology 20(1): 94-107. 2014

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edited: 26.11.2018

Euplacostylus koroensis (Garrett)

Koro Flax Snail (Euplacostylus koroensis)

The Koro Flax snail was described in 1872; it was restricted to the island of Koro in the Fiji archipelago.

The shells reach heights of about 5.3 cm.

The species appears to have not been recorded in recent times and is thought to be extinct.

***

syn. Placostylus koroensis (Garrett)

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Photo from: ‘Abraham S. H. Breure; Jonathan D. Ablett: Annotated type catalogue of the Bothriembryontidae and Odontostomidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Orthalicoidea) in the Natural History Museum, London. Zookeys 182: 1-70. 2012’

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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References:

[1] Abraham S. H. Breure; Jonathan D. Ablett: Annotated type catalogue of the Bothriembryontidae and Odontostomidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Orthalicoidea) in the Natural History Museum, London. Zookeys 182: 1-70. 2012

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edited: 05.02.2024

Ptilinopus sp. ‘Lakeba’

Lakeba Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus sp.)

The Lakeba Fruit-Dove is known only from subfossil remains that were recovered from Archaeological sites on the island of Lakeba in the Lau Archipelago in eastern Fiji.

The remains cannot be assigned to any of the other fruit-dove species known from the Fijian Islands and thus most likely represents a distinct species. [1]

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References:

[1] D. W. Steadman; J. Franklin: A preliminary survey of landbirds on Lakeba, Lau Group, Fiji. Emu 100(3): 227-235. 2000

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edited: 29.05.2019

Aglaia unifolia P. T. Li & X. M. Chen

Single-leafed Aglaia (Aglaia unifolia)  

The Single-leafed Aglaia is known from the type material which allegedly was collected in 1947 somewhere near a mountain named Mt. Nanggaranambuluta, which may or may not be today’s Mt. Lomalangi in the Nadarivatu region in the northern part of Viti Levu, Fiji.

The species was never recorded since and is considered extinct.

***

The Single-leafed Aglaia, however, is not mentioned at all in Albert C. Smith’s “Flora Vitiensis Nova: A new flora of Fiji” from 1985, thus this might indeed be one of the many cases in which a plant is considered extinct which probably never really existed but turns out some day to be just a different species with a wrong label. [1]

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Referenzen:  

[1] Albert C. Smith: Flora Vitiensis Nova: A new flora of Fiji (Spermatophytes only). Vol. 3. Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii 1985

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edited: 04.09.2019

Zapornia sp. ‘Aiwa Levu’

Aiwa Levu Swamphen (Zapornia sp.)  

Excavations in post-Lapita sites on the small island of Aiwa Levu in the Lau Archipelago, Fiji produced subfossil bones from as much as 16 land bird species, four or five of them now extinct.  

Among these subfossil remains were that of a small, flightless rail, that could be assigned to the genus Zapornia. [1]  

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References:  

[1] David W. Steadman: Extinction and Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds. University of Chicago Press 2006

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edited: 17.10.2020

Aglaia amplexicaulis A. C. Smith

Stem-clasping Aglaia (Aglaia amplexicaulis)  

The Stem-clasping Aglaia, described in the year 1936, is known only from three collections.  The plant is a smaller tree, up to 10 m tall and grows (or grew) in dense forests at elevations of 200 to 600 m.  

The species is known from at least two islands in the Fiji group, Kadavu and Viti Levu, and may be already extinct now.  

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edited: 18.03.2017

Ducula lakeba Worthy

Lakeba Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula lakeba)

The Lakeba Imperial-Pigeon was described based on subfossil bones that had been discovered on the island of Lakeba, Fiji.

The species was larger than any living species of its genus and had somewhat elongated tarsometatarsi, which might indicate that this was rather a ground-dwelling bird, it was, however, not flightless. [1]

***

This- or a closely and similar species is also known from subfossil remains found on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji. [1]

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References:

[1] T. H. Worthy: A giant flightless pigeon gen. et sp. nov. and a new species of Ducula (Aves: Columbidae), from Quaternary deposits in Fiji. Journal of the royal Society of new Zealand 31(4): 763-794. 2001

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edited: 14.05.2019

Sinployea rotumana (E. A. Sm.)

Rotuman Sinployea Snail (Sinployea rotumana)

This species was described in 1897; it is endemic to the island of Rotuma (apparently including some of the smaller offshore islets) north of the Fijian Islands, as far as I know it is known from seven or eight specimens only.

The Rotuman Sinployea Snail inhabited the leaf litter on the forest floors.

The shells reach sizes of about 0,26 to 0,33 cm in diameter.

***

The island’s snail fauna was surveyed in 1938 when a single empty shell was recovered; none was found in the next survey in 2012, it is clearly extinct today. [1][2]

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References:

[1] Alan Solem: Endodontoid land snails from Pacific Islands (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Sigmurethra). Part II, Families Punctidae and Charopidae, Zoogeography. Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, Illinois 1983
[2] Gilianne Brodie; Gary M. Bakker; Froseann Stevens; Monifa Fiu: Preliminary re-survey of the land snail fauna of Rotuma: conservation and biosecurity implications. Pacific Conservation Biology 20(1): 94-107. 2014

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edited: 02.08.2022

Pterophylla spiraeoides A. Gray

Ovalau Weinmannia (Pterophylla spiraeoides)

This species is known exclusively from the type that was collected in 1840 on the island of Ovalau, Fiji.

The species was never found again since and is considered extinct.

***

syn. Weinmannia spiraeoides A. Gray

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edited: 02.02.2024

Syzygium minus A. C. Sm.

Mt. Evans Rose Apple (Syzygium minus)

The Mt. Evans Rose Apple was described in 1985, it was restricted to the Mt. Evans Range on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji.

The species is known from only two specimens that were collected in 1964, it was never found again since and is feared to be extinct. 

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edited: 04.09.2019

Nesobasis aurantiaca Tillyard

Orange Fiji Damselfly (Nesobasis aurantiaca)

The Orange Fiji Damselfly was described in 1924; it is only known from a single male specimen that had been collected on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji. 

The species is mainly red colored, bearing some black longitudinal stripes along the dorsal part of its thorax.

***

The Orange Fiji Damselfly might by conspecific with Martina’s Fiji Damselfly (Nesobasis martina Marinov), which was only described in 2021 and which itself is only known by a single female specimen. [1]

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References:

[1] Milen Marinov: On the Fijian endemic genus Nesobasis Selys, 1891 with introduction of N. martina sp. nov. and N. monika sp. nov. (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) IDF-Report 165: 1-17. 2021

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edited: 10.01.2024

Anas sp. ‚Viti Levu‘

Fiji Teal (Anas sp.)  

This, up to now undescribed species is known only from a single subfossil bone, a scapula that was found in the Vatumu cave near the city of Nadi in the west part of the island of Viti Levu.  

The species was most probably closely related to the Australian Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea (Eyton)) resp. to the Australian Grey Teal (Anas gracilis Buller). [1]  

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References:  

[1] Geoffrey Richard Clark; Atholl Anderson: The early prehistory of Fiji. Terra Australis 31, Canberra: ANU ePress, December 2009

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edited: 18.10.2020

Ducula sp. ‘Viti Levu’

Viti Levu Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula sp.)

The Viti Levu Imperial-Pigeon is an undescribed species that is known only from subfossil remains that were recovered from the island of Viti Levu, Fiji.

The species is said to have been similar in size to the Lakeba Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula lakeba Worthy) and both may in fact have been identical to each other. [1]

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References:

[1] T. H. Worthy: A giant flightless pigeon gen. et sp. nov. and a new species of Ducula (Aves: Columbidae), from Quaternary deposits in Fiji. Journal of the royal Society of new Zealand 31(4): 763-794. 2001

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edited: 14.05.2019

Parkia parrii Horne ex Baker

Parr’s Parkia (Parkia parrii)

Parr’s Parkia was described in 1883, it is known only from the type collection that was allegedly made on the enigmatic ‘Parr’s Coffee Plantation’ somewhere along the Rewa River on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji, a locality that now cannot be traced anymore. 

According the the information accompanying the type, however, it was also found on the island of Vanua Levu.

The species was described as being an about 21 m tall tree with a 12 m tall trunk, the finely divided leaves are said to be about 30 cm long with six to eight opposite pairs of 10 to 12,5 cm long pinnae, which again bear about 1,6 to 1,9 cm long opposite leaflets.

The Fijian name was said to be vaivai, which is a generic name given to many legume species with finely divided leaves. [1]

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References:

[1] Helen C. Fortune Hopkins: The Indo-Pacific species of Parkia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae). Kew Bulletin 49(2): 181-234. 1994

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edited: 10.05.2019

Syzygium phaeophyllum Merr. & L. M.

Perry Gray-leaved Rose Apple (Syzygium phaeophyllum)  

The Gray-leaved Rose Apple is a 6 m tall tree that appears to be restricted to the island of Taveuni, Fijian Islands.  

The species is known only from two collections, made in the years 1933 and 1934 respectively.  

The Gray-leaved Rose Apple was never found again and thus is very likely already extinct.  

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edited: 28.03.2017