The Species of Tonga
Many important species visit Tonga's waters for some rest and relaxation after time in the open ocean. Tonga sits right on the edge of a deep ocean trench, making it the perfect location for deep water animals to come and recouperate. Some species remain on the reefs all the time, including the massive Giant Grouper, where they hunt and make their home. Unfortunaltey, the rare species that live on land in Tonga have been pushed onto small uninhabited areas where man hasn't built yet. At Tonga Travels we believe it is important to keep these small areas as wilderness so we try to discourage any landings on the smaller uninhabited islands. The slideshow below showcases some of Tonga's interesting and important species.
Marine Species
Humpback Whales migrate 8000km from the southern ocean to mate and give birth in Tonga's waters. The warmth of the seas near Tonga is perfect for raising calves and the plentiful food ensures that they are strong enough to make the return trip come November.
Napoleon Wrasse are useful indicators of reef health. Due to their large size, they require a reef with many small fish to hunt and therefore cannot survive on heavily damaged reefs. They also prey on the Crown of Thorns Starfish and act as an important control to stop the starfish from overpopulating the reef.
A rare visitor to Tonga's waters, this shark loves deep drop offs just like the Oceanic Whitetip Shark. This shark is listed as endangered by the IUCN redlist so it is important to report on any tagged individuals that are spotted.
Humpback Whales migrate 8000km from the southern ocean to mate and give birth in Tonga's waters. The warmth of the seas near Tonga is perfect for raising calves and the plentiful food ensures that they are strong enough to make the return trip come November.
Terrestrial Species
This large beetle is found all across tropical Asia, but is a new arrival to Tongas shores. This species can cause extreme damage to palm fronds and is classified as invasive for this reason. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are creating a plan to eradicate this beetle from Tonga’s shores.
This bat belongs to the largest genus of bat in the world! They do not posses echolocation, as they feed on fruit and nectar which they locate using their keen sense of smell. They can be seen in the early morning and late afternoon flying between roosting and feeding areas.
This species of megapode is endemic to the Kingdom of Tonga. Unfortunately due to the introduction of dogs, cats and rats, it no longer survives on any island other than Niuafo'ou which is far to the north.
This large beetle is found all across tropical Asia, but is a new arrival to Tongas shores. This species can cause extreme damage to palm fronds and is classified as invasive for this reason. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are creating a plan to eradicate this beetle from Tonga’s shores.