Species

Plants and animals of Tetiaroa and French Polynesia.

Subgroup

27 results· 1–24

The sea cucumber is present in lagoons on sandy floors.

Black sea cucumber

Holothuria atra

Rori

Each worm has two brightly colored crowns that protrude from its tube-like body.

Christmas tree worm

Spirobranchus corniculatus complex

Eu'a au

Coconut crab

Birgus latro

'aveu (Society Islands), Kaveu (Tuamotu Islands)

Collector urchin

Tripneustes gratilla

Havae

One of the most noticeable features of the crown-of-thorn starfish is their spines, which may be up to two inches long.

Crown-of-thorns starfish

Acanthaster planci species complex

Taramea

Day octopus

Octopus cyanea

Fe’e

Fire coral

Millepora platyphylla

Pukakana

Forest hermit crab

Coenobita spinosus

Horned ghost crab

Ocypode ceratophthalma

ohiti

Indonesian hermit crab

Coenobita brevimanus

'Oruhi ; 'Ua

Knob-horned coral

Pocillopora verrucosa

Pukakana

This crab lives in the supra-littoral zone, just out of the reach of the high tide, at the back of the beaches, and around water pockets.

Land crab

Cardisoma carnifex

tupa

Lobe coral

Porites lobata

Pukakana

Vana is primarily black and recognizable by its long spines, that resemble long needles.

Long-spined sea urchin

Diadema savignyi

Vana

Magnificent sea anemone

Heteractis magnifica

Pa’i Pa’i Pu’a

Money cowrie

Monetaria moneta

Reho Āmihi

Plicate nerite

Nerita plicata

Maoa

Red-spotted coral guard crab

Trapezia tigrina

Toetoe is a common crab in French Polynesia and is found all over the tropics.

Rock crab

Grapsus tenuicrustatus

toetoe

This crab can produce a shrill sound by rubbing its wrinkled claw on the inside of its leg.

Rugose land hermit crab

Coenobita rugosus

Oruhi ; ’Ua

Slate-pencil urchin

Heterocentrotus trigonarius

Tara fetu’e

Its colors come from tiny algae called zooxanthellae, that they absorb into their tissue.

Small giant clam

Tridacna maxima

Pahua

Staghorn coral

Acropora austera

Pukakana

Uá is indigenous, widespread in the Indo-Pacific, and very abundant in Tetiaroa.

Strawberry hermit crab

Coenobita perlatus

Uà

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

Invertebrates

A coconut crab in the forest and a coral colony on the reef share a place in this guide. Explore the animals without backbones that build, graze, burrow, and hunt across the atoll.

Sources and further reading

strawberry hermit.mp4

Stories from the field

Keep exploring

kaveu

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Ep.2: Discover the ʻŌhiti - ghost crab of Tetiaroa

Tetiaroa Nature Series: One species at a time Ep.2: Discover the 'Ōhiti — the ghost crabs of Tetiaroa Ever wondered who haunts the beaches of Tetiaroa at night? Find out about the 'ghosts' of Tetiaroa

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Ep.3: Discover the u'a 'o

Tetiaroa Nature Series: One species at a time Meet the u'a 'o - the Christmas tree worms of Teti’aroa These tiny marine wonders light up the reefs of Tetiaroa with their spiral shapes and vibrant colors. Find out about the Christmas tree worms of Teti’aroa

Read the story