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19 August 2021 | dataset

Notes on the verterbrate fauna of Tongareva atoll

At the time of the POBSP visit, cats (Felis domestica), dogs
(Canis familiaris), and pigs (Sus scrofa) were being raised by the natives. Comments in Ward (1967) and by Lamont (1867) suggest that the pigs may have been introduced to Tongareva in 1853 from the ship wrecked vessel Chatham. Rats (Rattus sp.) were numerous in 1965, but as no specimens were collected their identity is unknown. Lamont (1867) stated that in 1853 "... [the natives] had never seen an animal larger than a very small rat, that lives principally in the cocoa-nut trees " Lamont's description suggests that the rats on Tongareva are Rattus elegans, a species widely distributed on the Pacific Islands.

Available online

Call Number: [EL]

Physical Description: 8 Pages

Field Value
Publisher The Smithsonian Institution
Modified 15 February 2022
Release Date 19 August 2021
Source URL https://library.sprep.org/content/notes-verterbrate-fauna-tongareva-atoll
Identifier VL-34697
Spatial / Geographical Coverage Location SPREP LIBRARY
Relevant Countries Tonga
License Public
[Open Data]
Author Clapp Roger B
Contact Name SPREP Records and Archives Officer
Contact Email [email protected]