Notes: Metrosiderous canopy, Location: Moorea, French Polynesia,
Scientific Name: Mitthyridium obtusifolium, Notes: just moss from 67,
Scientific Name: moss: Mitthyridium obtusifolium, fern: Davallia pectinata / Humata pectinata,
Common Name: juvenile lichen,
Scientific Name: Davallia pectinata / Humata pectinata,
Notes: either Davallia solida var solida (tahitian name "Ti'ati'a mou'a") or Davallia denticulata var elata (tahitian name "Titi"),
Scientific Name: Dendrobium biflorum, Notes: Endemic to French Polynesia. Tahitian names you can find in bibliography are "mave" and "ofe ofe/ ohe ohe" (these names are also used, and preferentially used, for 2 other species nowadays, Anthrophyum plantagineum and Centotheca lappacea),
Scientific Name: Eria rostriflora, Notes: Endemic to eastern Polynesia, Tahitian name found in bibliography is "oa",
Scientific Name: Metrosideros collina var collina, Notes: Native. Tahitian names are Puarata/Rata in the Society and the Australs, Heua/Feua in the Marquesas,
Common Name: Inland Blue-tailed Skink, Scientific Name: Emoia impar,
Common Name: mourning gecko, Scientific Name: Lepidodactylus lugubris,
Common Name: Pilaria emerald moth, Scientific Name: Thalassodes pilaria, Magnification: 1x,
Common Name: Lunulifera moth, Scientific Name: Anatrachyntis lunulifera, Magnification: 4x,
Common Name: Cleora moth, Scientific Name: Cleora sp., Magnification: 1x,
Common Name: Imma moth, Scientific Name: Imma semiclara, Magnification: 2.5x, Notes: _MG_8540-42_specimen_22_stack,
Common Name: Tineid moth, Scientific Name: tineid sp.2, Magnification: 5x, Notes: _MG_8857-58-59-61_Specimen_30_stack_1,
Common Name: Tineid moth, Scientific Name: new species, Magnification: 3.3x,
Common Name: Signiferalis moth, Scientific Name: Piletocera signiferalis, Magnification: 1.5x,
Common Name: Almond moth, Scientific Name: Cadra cautella, Magnification: 2.5x,
Common Name: White plume moth, Scientific Name: Alucita sp., Magnification: 3x,
Common Name: White plume moth, Scientific Name: Alucita sp., Magnification: 3x,
Common Name: Asymphorodes moth, Scientific Name: Asymphorodes sp., Magnification: 4x,
Common Name: Leafminer moth, Scientific Name: gracillariid sp.3, Magnification: 3x,
Common Name: Leafminer moth, Scientific Name: gracillariid sp.3, Magnification: 2.3x,
Common Name: snail, Scientific Name: cf. Ovachlamys fulgens, Magnification: 5x, Notes: _MG_9190,
Common Name: snail, Scientific Name: probably an achatinellid in the subfamily Tornatellininae, Magnification: 5x, Notes: _MG_9077,
Common Name: Granulate millipede, Scientific Name: Glyphiulus granulatus, Magnification: 2.3x,
Common Name: Flat-backed millipede, Long-flange milliped, Scientific Name: Asiomorpha coarctata, Magnification: 1x,
Common Name: Trigoniulid millipede, Scientific Name: prob. Leptogoniulus sorornus, Magnification: 1x,
Common Name: pseudoscorpion, Scientific Name: Geogarypus longidigitatus, Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: Tahitian hackled orb weaver, Scientific Name: Tangaroa tahitiensis, Magnification: 2.3,
Common Name: Jumping spider, Scientific Name: Athamas sp., Magnification: 4x,
Common Name: spider, Scientific Name: Clubiona sp., Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: spider, Magnification: 4x,
Common Name: Spider, Scientific Name: Leucauge sp., Magnification: 2x,
Common Name: Asian Tiger Mosquito, Scientific Name: Aedes albopicuts, Magnification: 1.6x,
Common Name: Asian Tiger Mosquito, Scientific Name: Aedes albopicuts, Magnification: 2x,
Common Name: Digger wasp, Scientific Name: Pison irridipennis, Magnification: 2.5x,
Common Name: Green hover fly, Scientific Name: Ornidia obesa, Magnification: 1x,
Common Name: Flesh fly, Scientific Name: Sarcophaga (Tolucamyia) or (Neobelliaria) sp., Magnification: 1.6x,
Common Name: Atherigona house fly, Scientific Name: Atherigona (orientalis?), Magnification: 3x,
Common Name: Fringed Palm Aphid, Scientific Name: Cerataphis lataniae, Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: Lunulata woodlouse, Scientific Name: Echmepteryx lunulata, Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: Lusia woodlouse, Scientific Name: Nepticulomima lusiae, Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: Gump's woodlouse (immature), Scientific Name: Echmepteryx gumpi, Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: Gump's woodlouse, Scientific Name: Echmepteryx gumpi, Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: Nylandaria ant queen, Scientific Name: Nylandaria vaga?, Magnification: 3x,
Common Name: Ghost Ant, Scientific Name: Tapinoma melanocephalum, Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: Pacific tetramorium ant, Scientific Name: Tetramorium pacificum,
Common Name: Technomyrmex ant, Scientific Name: Technomyrmex sp., Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: Queensland Pine Borer, Scientific Name: Calymmaderus incisus, Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: Pallax seed bug, Scientific Name: Neocrompus pallax, Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: Pallipes click beetle, Scientific Name: Conoderus pallipes, Magnification: 1.9x,
Common Name: False Blister Beetle, Scientific Name: Ananca kanack, Magnification: 2x,
Common Name: longhorned beetle, Scientific Name: Ceresium unicolor, Magnification: 1x,
Common Name: Spotted roach, Scientific Name: Balta notulata, Magnification: 1x,
Common Name: Spotted roach, Scientific Name: Balta notulata, Magnification: 2x,
Common Name: Paronellid springtail, Scientific Name: Salina celebensis, Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: cricket, Scientific Name: undetermined sp., Magnification: 2.5x,
Common Name: Tropical house cricket, Scientific Name: Ornebius novarae, Magnification: 1x,
Common Name: green katydid, Scientific Name: undetermined sp., Magnification: .33x, Notes: _MG_8833,
Common Name: Atylana Plant Hopper, Scientific Name: Atylana sp., Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: orobatid mite, Magnification: 5x,
Common Name: Miocallus weevil, Scientific Name: Miocalles vagus, Magnification: 5x,
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A Cubic Foot of Tropical Forest<strong>SPECIAL REPORT: BIODIVERSITY AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE</strong>National Geographic photographer David Liittschwager photographed this Metrosiderous tree and all 58 species he found crawling, flying, or taking root in it. He and a team of scientists accounted for 49 arthropods, 2 reptiles, and 7 plant and fungus species.The forests of Mo‘orea are a combination of species introduced by the Polynesians and invasives introduced by European settlers, with a few scattered native species."There was a nest of Technomyrmex ants close to the cube," Liittschwager says. "This non-native ant had surely suppressed the local native diversity."(See more of Liittschwager's photos from Mo‘orea.)--Tasha Eichenseher and David Liittschwager
Photograph by David Liittschwager, National Geographic

Mo'orea Terrestrial Cubic Foot

National Geographic photographer David Liittschwager photographed this Metrosiderous tree and all 58 species he found crawling, flying, or taking root in it.

February 26, 2011

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