Wildlife of Kiribati

Ninety species of birds have been recorded in Kiribati, of which two are endemic and three have been introduced by humans. The Henderson petrel and Kiritimati reed-warbler (locally called bokikokiko) are both listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.^[1]

Two species of marine turtle have been positively identified in Kiribati waters:^[2]

• Green turtle (locally called te on)
• Hawksbill turtle (locally called te tabakea or te borauea)

The following marine turtle species have also been reported to occur in Kiribati waters, but only through descriptions:^[2]

• Loggerhead sea turtle (locally called te on n ae),
• Olive ridley (locally called te on mron)
• Leatherback (locally called te kabi n waa)

There are about 500 fish species found around the Phoenix Islands.^[3]

The Kiribati islands are located in the central Pacific Ocean making it jam-packed with rare animal species native to these islands. The islands host triggerfish (Xanthichthys greenei) that reside in greater depths of the ocean. Candy scale picnic gobies (Trimma squamicana) are more rare in other parts of the world, but are fairly common on the islands. They are light in color and are found at depths of 30 to 150 feet. The y-barred sandperch (Parapercis lata), is a shallow-dwelling fish with a white body and patches of red.^[4]