Species

Plants and animals of Tetiaroa and French Polynesia.

71 results· 1–24

Tamanu seed oil has many uses

Alexandrian laurel

Calophyllum inophyllum

Ati (Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands, Austral Islands), Tamanu (Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands, Austral Islands), Temanu (Marquesas Islands)

Suriana maritima flower on Onetahi

Bay cedar

Suriana maritima

'O'uru

These little white flowers of Tafano are used to make traditional hei.

Beach gardenia

Guettarda speciosa

Tafano (Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Austral Islands), Kahaia (Tuamotu Islands), Hano (Marquesas Islands)

heliotrope flowering

Beach heliotrope

Heliotropium foertherianum

Tahinu (Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands), Tohonu (Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Austral Islands), Geogeo (Tuamotu Islands)

The plant of many uses

Beach hibiscus

Talipariti tiliaceum

Purau (Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands, Austral Islands), Fau (Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Marquesas Islands, Austral Islands), Hau (Society Islands, Austral Islands)

Bird’s nest fern, ‘ō‘aha

Bird’s-nest fern

Asplenium nidus

'ō'aha (Society Islands)

Black Noddy on the tree

Black noddy

Anous minutus

’Oio (Society Islands); Kikiriri (Tuamotu Islands)

This species prefers shallow coastal waters and frequently exposes its first dorsal fin in these areas.

Blacktip reef shark

Carcharhinus melanopterus

Ma’o Mauri

Breadfruit

Breadfruit

Artocarpus altilis

'Uru (Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Austral Islands), Mei (Gambier Islands, Marquesas Islands)

Bristle-thighed curlew

Bristle-thighed curlew

Numenius tahitiensis

Te’ue, ‘Ivi

Brown booby

Brown booby

Sula leucogaster

A’o

Brown Noddy adult

Brown noddy

Anous stolidus

‘Oio

Cabbage Tree (Pisonia) canopy

Cabbage tree

Pisonia grandis

Pu’atea (French Polynesia), Gatae / Puka (Tuamotu Islands), Pukatea (Marquesas Islands)

Coconut tree with new fruits (drupes)

Coconut tree

Cocos nucifera

Ha’ari (Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Austral Islands), Niu (Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands), 'Ehi (Marquesas Islands)

Tutu is considered to be species introduced by the Polynesians on most Polynesian atolls, but is classified as a native species on high islands.

Colubrina

Colubrina asiatica

Tutu (Austral Islands, Marquesas Islands, Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands)

Pokea, common purslane

Common Purslane

Portulaca lutea

Pokea (French Polynesia)

The small rust brown fruit of the dye fig are the source of a red dye used in traditional fabric making in parts of Oceania

Dye fig

Ficus tinctoria

Mati (Society Islands, Austral Islands, Tuamotu Islands)

A traditional way of subduing fish

Fish-poison tree

Barringtonia asiatica

Hutu (French Polynesia), Hotu (French Polynesia)

Forest hermit crabs are generally of a brown color but they can also be orange, black, or reddish.

Forest hermit crab

Coenobita spinosus

The colors of the flowers that we find in Tetiaroa are white, yellow-white, pink, and red.

Frangipani

Plumeria rubra

Tipanie (French Polynesia)

Great frigatebird and his baby

Great frigatebird

Fregata minor

’Otaha

Great crested tern

Greater crested tern

Thalasseus bergii

Tarapapa

Juvenile Green turtle

Green turtle

Chelonia mydas

Honu

Grey-Backed Tern

Grey-backed tern

Onychoprion lunatus

Oreore

The guide includes species from Tetiaroa and elsewhere in French Polynesia. Local occurrence is noted where documented.

Sooty Tern — Ⓒ Patrick Ingremeau

Motu and shore

Birds in the canopy. Crabs underfoot. Plants rooted in sand made from the reef. Begin where the land meets the water.

Stories from the field

Keep exploring

Cladium | Uti uti | Sawgrass

Cladium | Uti uti | Sawgrass

Cladium | Uti uti | Sawgrass

Bristle-thighed curlews

Bristle-thighed curlews

Bristle-thighed curlews

Black-tip reef sharks

Black-tip reef sharks

Black-tip reef sharks

Coral Reefs: Ecosystem of the Decade

Coral Reefs: Ecosystem of the Decade

Coral Reefs: Ecosystem of the Decade

Sooty terns

Sooty terns

Sooty terns

Pisonia grandis

Pisonia grandis

Pisonia grandis