Osteichthyes
What is Osteichthyes?
Taxonomic group of bony fish with a skeleton made of bone and cartilage. Key features of this taxonomic group include: skin with mucous glands and embedded dermal glands, paired fins, a present jaw, and a mouth with lots of teeth(although some toothless).
Osteichthyes in the Park
Crocodile Snake Eel (Brachysomophis crocodilinus) found in the waters around the coast of the American Samoan islands. Their pointed snouts and tails allow them to burrow beneath the sand. They can usually be found with just their head showing above the sand waiting for their prey.
Role in Ecosystem
The major role in the ecosystem of this "bony fish" is to control the numbers of the species they prey on and to provide a food source to their predators.
Taxonomic group of bony fish with a skeleton made of bone and cartilage. Key features of this taxonomic group include: skin with mucous glands and embedded dermal glands, paired fins, a present jaw, and a mouth with lots of teeth(although some toothless).
Osteichthyes in the Park
Crocodile Snake Eel (Brachysomophis crocodilinus) found in the waters around the coast of the American Samoan islands. Their pointed snouts and tails allow them to burrow beneath the sand. They can usually be found with just their head showing above the sand waiting for their prey.
Role in Ecosystem
The major role in the ecosystem of this "bony fish" is to control the numbers of the species they prey on and to provide a food source to their predators.
Reptillia
What are Reptiles?
Cold-blooded vertebrates. Two characteristics that distinguished early reptiles from amphibians was scales and the ability to lay hard-shelled amniotic eggs. Scales protect reptiles from abrasion and loss of body moisture. Hard-shelled eggs provide a protective environment in which the embryo can develop.
Reptiles in the Park
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) is found in the near oceans of the American Samoa. They can grow up to three feet in length and range anywhere from 300-350 pounds. Green Sea Turtles are the largest of hard-shelled turtles but their heads are comparatively small. Adult sea turtles are herbivorous feeding primarily on sea grasses and algae giving them a green color from which they get their name from.
Role in Ecosystem
The Green Sea Turtle plays a critical role in its ecosystem. Sea Turtles help maintain the health of the world’s oceans by maintaining the activity of coral reefs.
Cold-blooded vertebrates. Two characteristics that distinguished early reptiles from amphibians was scales and the ability to lay hard-shelled amniotic eggs. Scales protect reptiles from abrasion and loss of body moisture. Hard-shelled eggs provide a protective environment in which the embryo can develop.
Reptiles in the Park
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) is found in the near oceans of the American Samoa. They can grow up to three feet in length and range anywhere from 300-350 pounds. Green Sea Turtles are the largest of hard-shelled turtles but their heads are comparatively small. Adult sea turtles are herbivorous feeding primarily on sea grasses and algae giving them a green color from which they get their name from.
Role in Ecosystem
The Green Sea Turtle plays a critical role in its ecosystem. Sea Turtles help maintain the health of the world’s oceans by maintaining the activity of coral reefs.
Amphibia
What are Amphibians?
Tetrapod vertebrates inhabit a wide variety of habitats with most species living within terrestrial, fossorial, arboreal or freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Amphibians use their skin as a secondary respiratory surface and some small terrestrial salamanders and frogs lack lungs and rely entirely upon skin.
Amphibians in the Park
Marine toad (Bufo marinus) is found in the marine environments the national park of American Samoa. Extremely large, brown toad with dry, bumpy skin; huge parotoid glands (warty masses) located from behind the eyes down the side of the body. They average 10-15 cm in length with the females being generally larger than the males. Although the name suggests they are a marine species, they are entirely terrestrial.
Role in Ecosystem
The role of the marine toad in its ecosystem is similar to all amphibians. They control the insect population, and they're a food source for many larger animals.
Tetrapod vertebrates inhabit a wide variety of habitats with most species living within terrestrial, fossorial, arboreal or freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Amphibians use their skin as a secondary respiratory surface and some small terrestrial salamanders and frogs lack lungs and rely entirely upon skin.
Amphibians in the Park
Marine toad (Bufo marinus) is found in the marine environments the national park of American Samoa. Extremely large, brown toad with dry, bumpy skin; huge parotoid glands (warty masses) located from behind the eyes down the side of the body. They average 10-15 cm in length with the females being generally larger than the males. Although the name suggests they are a marine species, they are entirely terrestrial.
Role in Ecosystem
The role of the marine toad in its ecosystem is similar to all amphibians. They control the insect population, and they're a food source for many larger animals.
Aves
What are Aves?
Taxonomic group of birds. Key features of this taxonomic group include: wings, feathers, hollow bones, warm blooded, bipedal, and lay eggs.
Aves in the Park
Fairy Tern (Sterna nereis) a small tern weighing just seventy grams at maturity. The fairy tern is mostly white except for its crown which is black from bill to nape. The Fairy Tern is found on coastal beaches, inshore and offshore islands, sheltered inlets, sewage farms, harbours, estuaries and lagoons. It favours both fresh and saline wetlands and near-coastal terrestial wetlands, including lakes and salt-ponds.
Role in Ecosystem
While the bird receives nectar or fruit from the tree it visits, the tree benefits by having another organism carry out the process of pollination or seed dispersal. Many native trees cannot perform these processes without the intervention of birds.
Taxonomic group of birds. Key features of this taxonomic group include: wings, feathers, hollow bones, warm blooded, bipedal, and lay eggs.
Aves in the Park
Fairy Tern (Sterna nereis) a small tern weighing just seventy grams at maturity. The fairy tern is mostly white except for its crown which is black from bill to nape. The Fairy Tern is found on coastal beaches, inshore and offshore islands, sheltered inlets, sewage farms, harbours, estuaries and lagoons. It favours both fresh and saline wetlands and near-coastal terrestial wetlands, including lakes and salt-ponds.
Role in Ecosystem
While the bird receives nectar or fruit from the tree it visits, the tree benefits by having another organism carry out the process of pollination or seed dispersal. Many native trees cannot perform these processes without the intervention of birds.
Mammalian: Carnivores
What are Mammalian Carnivores?
Mammals are warm blooded vertebrates that have hair and give birth to live young. Humans are mammals. Carnivores are heterotrophs (does not produce its own food) that consume only other animals not plants.
Carnivores in the Park
Rough Toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis) found in marine environments of American Samoa. They have a small head with a long beak with no crease at the melon. Their dorsal fin is relatively large and tall and is located at the mid-back and they have relatively long flippers (pectoral fins). Body color is dark with white lips and throat and a dark dorsal cape that is narrow between the blowhole and dorsal fin. The belly (ventral) surface has irregular spots and blotches.
Role in Ecosystem
The role in the ecosystem of the Rough Toothed Dolphin is much like other top-level predators. Their role in the ecosystem is to control populations of fishes and squids and keep the ecosystem balance.
Mammals are warm blooded vertebrates that have hair and give birth to live young. Humans are mammals. Carnivores are heterotrophs (does not produce its own food) that consume only other animals not plants.
Carnivores in the Park
Rough Toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis) found in marine environments of American Samoa. They have a small head with a long beak with no crease at the melon. Their dorsal fin is relatively large and tall and is located at the mid-back and they have relatively long flippers (pectoral fins). Body color is dark with white lips and throat and a dark dorsal cape that is narrow between the blowhole and dorsal fin. The belly (ventral) surface has irregular spots and blotches.
Role in Ecosystem
The role in the ecosystem of the Rough Toothed Dolphin is much like other top-level predators. Their role in the ecosystem is to control populations of fishes and squids and keep the ecosystem balance.
Mammalian: Herbivores
What are Mammalian Herbivores?
Mammalian herbivores are mammals which means they are warm blooded vertebrates that are also herbivores. Herbivores are heterotrophs (organisms that do not make their own food) that receive their energy and nutrients from a diet consisting exclusively of plant based organisms.
Herbivores in the Park
White-naped fruit bat (Pteropus tonganus) one of the three large fruit bat species that inhabits the islands of American Samoa. This species may sport a white to yellowish triangular patch that starts from the forehead and extends to the back of its head, or it may simply exhibit a generally grayish head with or without flecks of white hair. Its neck and shoulder areas are a beautiful russet brown, while the rest of the body has a dusty black appearance.
Role in the Ecosystem
Much like other herbivores, the white-naped fruit bat is very important to its ecosystem. They eat fruit and leave the seeds somewhere else promoting more vegetation growth within the ecosystem.
Mammalian herbivores are mammals which means they are warm blooded vertebrates that are also herbivores. Herbivores are heterotrophs (organisms that do not make their own food) that receive their energy and nutrients from a diet consisting exclusively of plant based organisms.
Herbivores in the Park
White-naped fruit bat (Pteropus tonganus) one of the three large fruit bat species that inhabits the islands of American Samoa. This species may sport a white to yellowish triangular patch that starts from the forehead and extends to the back of its head, or it may simply exhibit a generally grayish head with or without flecks of white hair. Its neck and shoulder areas are a beautiful russet brown, while the rest of the body has a dusty black appearance.
Role in the Ecosystem
Much like other herbivores, the white-naped fruit bat is very important to its ecosystem. They eat fruit and leave the seeds somewhere else promoting more vegetation growth within the ecosystem.
Mammalian: Omnivores
What are Mammalian Omnivores?
Mammalian Omnivores are mammals that are also omnivores. Omnivores are heterotrophs that receive their energy and nutrients from a diet consisting of both animal tissue and plant based organisms.
Omnivores in the Park
Another one of the three large fruit bat species in American Samoa is the Samoan Flying Fox (Pteropus samoensis) it is presently found only in the Samoan Archipelago and Fiji. They live on land. Unlike the White-naped fruit bat, the Samoan Flying Fox consumes both fruit and small insects. They have a black head and body. These black areas serve to set off a distinctive band of creamy yellow on the back of the neck and which extends slightly below its shoulders as if in a cape.
Role in ecosystem
Omnivores generally benefit the ecosystem like both a herbivore and a carnivore. Like a herbivore they promote vegetation growth and like a carnivore they control the number of species they prey on and provide a food source for their predators.
Mammalian Omnivores are mammals that are also omnivores. Omnivores are heterotrophs that receive their energy and nutrients from a diet consisting of both animal tissue and plant based organisms.
Omnivores in the Park
Another one of the three large fruit bat species in American Samoa is the Samoan Flying Fox (Pteropus samoensis) it is presently found only in the Samoan Archipelago and Fiji. They live on land. Unlike the White-naped fruit bat, the Samoan Flying Fox consumes both fruit and small insects. They have a black head and body. These black areas serve to set off a distinctive band of creamy yellow on the back of the neck and which extends slightly below its shoulders as if in a cape.
Role in ecosystem
Omnivores generally benefit the ecosystem like both a herbivore and a carnivore. Like a herbivore they promote vegetation growth and like a carnivore they control the number of species they prey on and provide a food source for their predators.
Mammalian: Rodents
What are Rodents?
Rodents are small mammals they include beavers, chipmunks, mice, porcupines, rats, and squirrels. They breed quickly and if it wasn't for predators there would be major overproduction.
Rodents in the Park
Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans) located in the forests of the American Samoa. The Polynesian Rat is similar in appearance to the black or ship rat just smaller. It can grow up to 130 millimeters in length including the head. At full maturity it weighs only up to 80 grams.
Role in Ecosystem
The Polynesian Rat is an omnivore so it promotes vegetation growth as well as a herbivore. In ecosystems, rodents also help control species (insects, and small animals).
Rodents are small mammals they include beavers, chipmunks, mice, porcupines, rats, and squirrels. They breed quickly and if it wasn't for predators there would be major overproduction.
Rodents in the Park
Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans) located in the forests of the American Samoa. The Polynesian Rat is similar in appearance to the black or ship rat just smaller. It can grow up to 130 millimeters in length including the head. At full maturity it weighs only up to 80 grams.
Role in Ecosystem
The Polynesian Rat is an omnivore so it promotes vegetation growth as well as a herbivore. In ecosystems, rodents also help control species (insects, and small animals).