Report-Zoologists

Fauna
There are few species of mammals found on The Island. To date, zoologists have only found a species of rat, opussum and flying fox.
 * //Mammals//**

There are significant numbers of insect species found across the island including brightly coloured butterflies, numerous varieties of beetles, ants and stick insects. There are also numerous snails of one or two species. The most abundant insect found during the fauna survey were bees. They were found across The Island wherever flowering plants were found. A number of honey producing hives were discovered across the Island. (Suerveyors reported the honey was of high quality and very tasty!)
 * //Insects//**

Although not insects, there are a number of species of spiders as well ranging from small to large - some species are the large hairy tarantual type of spider whilst other resemble the orb spider.

Brids are in abundance, particularly sea birds such as boobies, terns and gulls. Other species include a Crake (Porzana atra), a Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus inslaris), a Lorikeet (Vini stepheni), Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus taiti) and Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus vaughani),
 * //Birds//**
 * [[image:http://www.pitcairntravel.pn/images/bird3.jpg align="right"]][[image:theisland2011/PacificGull.jpg align="right"]] ||

There is a red-footed boobie rookery on the west coast of The Island on the cliffs near the river (C2).


 * //Marine life//**

Fish and sealife are in abundant supply in the waters off The Island. There are a number of floruishing coral reefs around The Island that support a wide range of marine ecosystems.

Nanwee, White Fish, Moi and Opapa were caught byt he reconaissance team in shallow water, while Snapper, Big Eye and Cod were caught in deep water. Yellow Tail and Wahoo were also noticed in surveys.





Large coconut crabs are also found in those parts of the island that have coconut palms. Spiny lobsters were also spotted in the rockier coastal areas. Freshwater fish are also found in the estuaries and rivers upstream of the coast.