French Polynesia

Birds found only in French Polynesia include the Ultramarine Lorikeet (ARKive WM), Nukuhiva Imperial Pigeon (eBird), the Rapa Fruit Dove (Manu), the Raiatea Fruit Dove (INPN), the Polynesian Ground Dove (eBird), the Tuamotu Sandpiper (eBird), the Tuamotu Kingfisher (eBird), the Polynesian Swiftlet (eBird), the Iphis Monarch (eBird), the Fatu Hiva Monarch (eBird), the Rimatara Reed Warbler (Manu), and the Tahiti Swallow (Manu). The Rapa Shearwater (eBird) and the Little White Tern (figs. b & d at ResearchGate) are breeding endemics. Recently extinct species include the Raiatea Parakeet (ARKive WM), Miller's Rail (Wikipedia), the Tahiti Rail (Wikipedia), and the Raiatea Starling (Wikipedia).

Marine fish unique to French Polynesia include the Marquesan Parrotfish (IUCN), the Marquesan Damselfish (FishBase), Strasburg's Dascyllus (iNaturalist), the Marquesan Sergeant (FishBase), the Tahiti Butterflyfish Chaetodon trichrous and the Marquesan Surgeonfish Acanthurus reversus (both at ResearchGate), the Marquesan Grouper (ResearchGate), Nemanthias regalis (FishBase), the Tahitian Striped Hogfish (Species New to Science), the Marquesan Toby (ResearchGate), the Rapa Triplefin (FishBase), the Sister Cardinalfish Ostorhinchus relativus (ResearchGate), the Flame Perchlet (ResearchGate), the Marquesan Rockskipper (ResearchGate), a dartfish Parioglossus galzini (ResearchGate), the gobies Amblyeleotris marquesas (ResearchGate) and Stonogobiops medon (ResearchGate), the Nuku Hiva Filefish (ResearchGate), and the wrasses Pseudolabrus torotai (FishBase) and Coris hewetti (iNaturalist). The Medusa Combtooth Blenny Medusablennius (CAS) is an endemic genus. The Marquesas have exceptional coral reef fish endemism (Check List).

Endemic freshwater fish include a flagtail Kuhlia malo (MNHN), Stiphodon julieni (ResearchGate), Stiphodon oatea (ResearchGate), Stenogobius randalli (BHL), Stenogobius marqueti (BHL), Stenogobius squamosus (BHL), and Sicyopterus rapa (p. 34 of Bishop Museum WM pdf). Photos of the following gobies endemic to the Marquesas can be found in (ResearchGate): Lentipes rubrofasciatus, Smilosicyopus bitaeniatus, Sicyopterus marquesensis, Stiphodon tuivi, and Stenogobius caudimaculosus.

Butterflies known solely from French Polynesia Nacaduba tahitiensis (p. 2 of MNHN WM pdf) (iNaturalist), Phalanta gaberti (iNaturalist) (INPN), Phalanta marquesana (BOLD), and Libythea collenettei (Univ. Hawaii-Manoa WM pdf). Endemic moths include an owlet moth Callopistria steevei (INPN), a fruit-piercing moth Eudocima steppingstonia (BOLD), a leafroller moth Dichelopa anthrocodelta (Lepidoptera of FP), and a hawk moth Gnathothlibus astyanor (INPN).

Other endemic insects include a damselfly Ischnura thelmae (fig. 4 of Brill pdf), a dragonfly Hemicordulia oceanica (INPN), a cicada Raiateana oulietea (INPN), the ground beetles Mecyclothorax ramagei (EurekAlert! WM) and Metacolpodes monticola (INPN), a jewel beetle Cyphogastra taitina and a weevil Rhyncogonus lateralis (both on p. 2 of MNHN WM pdf), a praying mantis Tropidomantis kawaharai (Species New to Science), the katydids Conocephalus tridens (INPN) and Coptaspis elegans (OSF), a grasshopper Valanga rapana (INPN), a groundhopper Hydrotetrix cheesmanae (INPN), a water measurer Marquesametra hivaoa (GBIF), the flower flies Allograpta jacqui and Melanostoma polynesiotes (both at ResearchGate), a masked bee Hylaeus aureaviridis (Frontiers), and an ant Carebara tahitiensis (INPN).

Other endemic invertebrates include the spiders Misumenops melloleitaoi (INPN) and Australaena zimmermani (INPN), a pseudoscorpion Olpium caputi (ZooKeys), a woodlouse Tridentodillo squamosus (BHL), a terrestrial amphipod Orchestia marquesana (GBIF), the freshwater shrimps Caridina rapaensis (GBIF), and Macrobrachium feunteuni (Central Pacific Crustacea WM), a land planarian Kontikia insularis (fig. 1 at Bishop Museum WM pdf), and a freshwater snail Fluviopupa tubuaia (p. 10 of ResearchGate pdf).

More than 160 endemic landsnails include Samoana attenuata (IUCN), Samoana burchi (ARKive WM), Nesoropupa nathaliae (INPN), Succinea infundibuliformis (INPN), Microcystis saintjohni and Diastole rurutui (both on p. 29 of ResearchGate pdf), Sinployea modicella (iNaturalist), Omphalotropis subimperforata (INPN), Australdonta raivavaeana and Orangia cookei (both on p. 26 of ResearchGate pdf), Liardetia normalis (iNaturalist), Partula suturalis (ARKive WM), Partula taeniata (ARKive WM), Partula clara (IUCN), and Partula nodosa (Joel Sartore).

Endemic marine invertebrates include the Red-spotted Mitten Lobster Parribacus holthuisi (Central Pacific Crustacea WM), a hermit crab Ciliopagurus vakovako (fig. C at ResearchGate), a starfish Devania naviculiforma (ResearchGate), a sea urchin Toxopneustes maculatus (ResearchGate), the cone snails Conus marchionatus (jaxshells.org WM) and Conus conco (fig. B at ResearchGate), the cowries Cribrarula astaryi (Eddie Hardy) and Naria thomasi (Eddie Hardy), a murex Chicoreus thomasi (Eddie Hardy), and Nassarius candens (Femorale WM). The 243 endemic marine mollusc species are indicated in a list at (ResearchGate). A marine amphipod crustacean Kairos segregans (WoRMS) from Bora Bora is the sole member of a recently described family, the Kairosidae (p. 24 of Zootaxa pdf).

More than 500 endemic vascular plant species include such orchids as Oberonia tahitensis (Moorea Digital Flora Project), Taeniophyllum elegantissimum (IOSPE WM), and Bulbophyllum tahitense (INPN). Other endemic vascular plants include Epipremnum aureum (iNaturalist), Serianthes rurutensis (ARKive WM), Nicotiana fatuhivensis (Flora of the Marquesas), Chamaesyce atoto (ARKive WM), Sclerotheca raiateensis (INPN), Coryphopteris (or Thelypteris) marquesensis (iNaturalist), Plantago rapensis (iNaturalist), Astelia rapensis (p. 20 of J-Y Meyer WM pdf), Pilea butaudiana (iNaturalist), Bidens henryi (Flora of the Marquesas), Gahnia marquisensis (Flora of the Marquesas), and Myrsine niauensis (p. 37 of ResearchGate pdf).

Endemic trees include the palms Pritchardia vuylstekeana (PalmPedia) and Pelagodoxa henryana (ARKive WM), Lepinia taitensis (ARKive WM), Erythrina tahitensis (INPN), Abutilon sachetianum (ResearchGate), Rauvolfia nukuhivensis (IUCN), Pittosporum raivavaeense (ARKive WM), Sophora mangarevaensis (ARKive WM), Cyrtandra nukuhivensis (Flora of the Marquesas), Ochrosia brownii (IUCN), Polyscias marchionensis (iNaturalist), Hernandia nukuhivensis (Flora of the Marquesas), and Acalypha raivavensis (ARKive WM). Endemic tree genera include Lebronnecia (Keoki & Yuko Stender), Plakothira (Flora of the Marquesas), Metatrophis (GBIF), and Oparanthus (Flora of the Marquesas).

Other endemic vascular plant genera include Pacifigeron (ResearchGate), and Apostates (fig. E at ResearchGate). Apetahia (Flora of the Marquesas) and Haroldiella (p. 21 of J-Y Meyer WM pdf) are sometimes recognized as endemic genera distinct from the more widespread Sclerotheca and Pilea.

Endemic fungi include Metabourdotia tahitiensis (GBIF) (JSTOR) and Tulasnella pacifica (GBIF). Lichens known only from French Polynesia include Lecanora raroia (GBIF) and Phyllopsora societatis (GBIF). Endemic non-vascular plants include a liverwort Treubia tahitensis (JSTOR) and the mosses Fissidens mooreae (p. 13 of eScholarship pdf) and Fissidens jaiorum and Fissidens aoraiensis (both at JSTOR). Endemic marine macroalgae include Halymenia nukuhivensis (ResearchGate).

French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France, part of the Polynesia- Micronesia biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity Hotspots WM) and includes the following terrestrial ecoregions: the Marquesas Tropical Moist Forests (EoE), the Society Islands Tropical Moist Forests (EoE), and the Tubuai Tropical Moist Forests (EoE). For an overview of the biota of the Marquesas see (IRCP WM pdf). For an overview of arthropod endemism see (MNHN pdf) and for marine invertebrate endemism see (ResearchGate). The Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel provides lists of endemic animals (INPN) and endemic plants (INPN).