Avifauna: 

Common Name: Rarotonga Flycatcher

Family: Monarchidae

Scientific Name: Pomarea dimidiata

The Rarotonga Flycatcher is one of the endemic birds of the Cooks Islands that is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. In 1989, this small flycatcher was one of the ten rarest birds in the world, teetering on the brink of extinction with a declining population of just 29 birds. Since then, it has been making a comeback.

Common Name: Mysterious Starling

Family: Sturnidae

Scientific Name: Aplonis mavornata

This now extinct species is closely related to the Rarotonga Starling, one of the Cook Islands’s other endemic species. It is only known from the single specimen collected on Mauke by naturalist Andrew Bloxam on August 9, 1825.

Common Name: Royal Albatross

Family: Diomedeidae

Scientific Name: Diomedea epomophora

This white water fowl is the second largest species albatross in the entire world. That’s no surprise, considering it has a wingspan of up to 3 meters.

Mammals: 

Aquatic:

Common Name: Sperm Whale

Family: Physeteridae

Scientific Name: Physeter macrocephalus

A native of the Cook Islands region, the Sperm Whale is the largest toothed whale. It’s also the only living member of the genus Physeter.

Name: Blue Whale

Family: Balaenopteridae

Scientific Name: Balaenoptera musculus

At 30 metres in length and 170 tonnes or more in weight, the blue whale is the largest known animal to have ever existed.

Land: 

Common Name: Pacific Flying Fox

Family: Pteropodidae

Scientific Name: Pteropus tonganus

The Pacific Flying Fox, or Insular Flying Fox, is classified by the IUCN as Least Concern. It primarily feasts on fruits, pollen, and nectar.

Herptofauna:

Common Name: Southern Bell Frog

Family: Ranidae

Scientific Name: Litoria raniformis

This species of frog is now extinct in the Cook Islands.

Common Name: Loggerhead Turtle

Family: Cheloniidae

Scientific Name: Caretta caretta

The Loggerhead Turtle is one of the turtles of the Cooks Islands that is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. It has a very large head and crushing jaws.

Common Name: Mournful Parent-Gecko

Family: Gekkonidae

Scientific Name: Lepidodactylus new

This endangered species of gecko was discovered so recently by herpetologist Ted J. Case that it hasn’t even received a scientific name.

Aquatics:

Fish:

Common Name: Shortjaw Bonefish

Family: Albulidae

Scientific Name: Albula glossodonta

This unique fish can tolerate oxygen poor water by inhaling air into a lung-like bladder.

Common Name: Cook Islands Flashlight Fish

Familie: Anomalopidae

Scientific Name: Photoblepharon rosenblatti

The Cook Island Flashlight Fish lives in the demersal, marine environment. It is a great example of bioluminescence.

Common Name: Peppermint Angelfish

Familie: Pomacanthidae

Scientific Name: Centropyge boylei

The Peppermint Angelfish’s scientific name was given to it in honor of Charles J. Boyle, who first discovered the species.

Common Name: Orange-spotted Soapfish

Family: Serranidae

Scientific Name: Belonoperca pylei

The Orange-spotted Soapfish is an extremely rare species of fish. It is also known as the Dr. Seuss fish.

Insects and Relatives:

Common Name: Wolf Spider

Family: Lycosidae

Scientific Name: Lycosa tongatabuensis

The Wolf Spider is a hunting species that pounces on or even chases after prey. It keeps its eggs on its abdomen by attaching them to its spinnerets.

References:

Edwards, Richard (Chief Executive). http://www.arkive.org. Arkive. 2003, 2013 Web. 5 Jun 2013

<www.arkive.org>

McCormack, G.. Cookislands.bishopmuseum.org. Cook Islands Biodiversity & Natural Heritge. 24 Sept. 2005, 2 Mar. 2005  Web. 25 May 2013, 5 Jun 2013

<http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/results.aspsearch=true&searchLanguage=all&strictSearchLanguage=False&page=1&ebg=Corals&Submit=Search&BiologicalGroup=_1Qic&Country=zCKz&displaymode=imageallnames&resultsPerPage=20&Origin=&Habitat=&Area=&Present=0&PosSig=&NegSig=&Endangered=>