Diverse bird life in the Solomon Islands
The bird life on the islands is particularly diverse. 140 different species were counted on site. One example is the collar pigeon, whose blue-gray wreath of feathers around its neck is quite striking. The feathers on the tail are white. This type of pigeon particularly values the tropical rainforests of the Solomon Islands. The Pacific fruit pigeon is also native to the Solomon Islands. She prefers fruits and berries. Other bird species are parrots such as the edible parrot.
The big foot fowl, which can also be found on other South Sea islands, lays its eggs in warm places to allow them to hatch there. The chicken itself has little desire to do this. This is precisely why volcanic islands are popular. Only in the Solomon Islands comes Salomonenkauz before, which is one of the owls.
There are also colorful butterflies – 130 different species have been counted on the islands, but there are probably more.
Climbing bagler
Climbing baglers look a bit like monkeys and live in Australia, New Guinea, eastern Indonesia, the Solomon Islands and New Zealand. They live on trees, mostly at least, and have a long tail that allows them to keep their balance, and they also claw their hands tightly. They are mostly nocturnal. The wool cuscus is particularly widespread in the Solomon Islands.
Mammals – (almost) nonexistent!
You will find only a few species of mammals in the Solomon Islands, some bats and flying foxes have been sighted. In addition, there are animals that were introduced many years ago by seafarers in particular. They include rats and mice. Can you imagine something under an animal that goes by the funny name of the woolly cuckoo? It is one of the so-called climbing baglers. This animal can change its coat color. It’s also found in New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. The opossum also feels at home in the Solomon Islands. This also does not originally come from the islands.
What is creeping up there then?
Few mammals live in the Solomon Islands. Reptiles are more common there. Lizards, snakes, turtles, but also frogs and toads find it pleasant on the Solomon Islands.
Very special animals, because they have been around since ancient times, are the monitor lizards, a type of lizard. Barbed-neck monitor and mangrove monitor are the names of the two species that live on the Solomon Islands. Monitor lizards normally do not appreciate salt water, but the mangrove monitor is one of the species that can withstand salt water.
The estuarine crocodile, which is also the largest species of crocodile of all, likes to romp around in the salt water, because it can be over six meters long. This crocodile likes to stay in estuaries, but also in the mangrove forests.
Under water
Around the Solomon Islands you dive into a diverse underwater world. Almost every island has a coral reef and these reefs are full of fish. But also sea turtles and sea snails have a home here. You can certainly remember the clown fish Nemo from the film of the same name. It feels particularly comfortable between the sea anemones and seeks protection in the poisonous stinging cells of the anemones. The clownfish doesn’t mind that. You will also discover different species of sharks and manta rays in the waters.
Are there any poisonous animals in the Solomon Islands?
There are poisonous animals in the Solomon Islands, but they are rare and most of them do not want to know anything about humans. Just don’t get in their way. Scorpions and centipedes are among them.
A small mosquito, the fever mosquito, which transmits a disease called malaria, which is very common in this region, can be dangerous. Many people get infected with it.
What is growing here?
Mangrove forests and coconut palms line the coasts of the Solomon Islands. The rest of the islands are covered by fairly dense rainforest. Sago palms are native to the marshland, originally from Southeast Asia and belonging to the fern family, more precisely to the cycad family. The pulp of the palm can be eaten.
Overall, the variety of plants is great, with many plant species belonging to the orchids. There is also vegetable and fruit cultivation, such as pineapples or bananas. In addition to the crops and flowers, you will also find cocoa plantations and fields where the locals grow rice. Also Betelnusspalmen there are often in the Solomon Islands because the tradition of Betelnusskauens is widespread (see everyday: typical Solomon Islands).
