WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT OF AMERICAN SAMOA. II. ACCOUNTS OF FLORA AND FAUNA

(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) A surveyof the statusof the terrestrial vertebrate wildlife and the wildlifehabitat of American Samoawas conducted from 15June 1975to 21 December 1976. Data were collected from42 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 speciesof which 33 tree speciesare 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, Hemidactylusfrenatus, are recent introductions. The Pacific boa, Candoia brbroni, is first reported from American Samoa, and 37 insular distribution records arereported. In number of individuals, reptiles arethe most abundant vertebrates on the islands.