Fauna at Matava Resort, Fiji
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Mammals
The only native mamal found in the Fiji islands is the bat. There are 6 species, 3 of which are fruit bats. Of the three species of fruit bat, the one you are most likely to see is the Polynesian Flying Fox pteropus tonganus. It is common to see large fruit bats fly over the resort in the early evening, particularily when the mango trees are ripe with fruit though they are rather difficult to photograph ! |
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Fruit bats do not posess the ability to echo-locate but instead have large eyes adapted for nocturnal vision and an excellent sense of smell. Guests sitting on the main bure front deck in the evening often hear what sounds like bat 'clicks'. They are in fact the White-rumped swiftlet using its ability to echo-locate flying insects and catching them on the wing over the front lawn.
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Reptiles
There are 27 species of reptiles of which 8 are endemic to Fiji. Two Iguanas, 12 Skinks, 10 geckos and 3 snakes.
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Iguanas
How iguanas arrived in the Fiji islands is a bit of a mystery. There are two species here and both are related more closely to the jungle iguanas of Central America rather than those marine iguanas of the Galapagos islands. At present the best theory is rafting.
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The Banded iguana Brachylophus fasciatus can be found on Kadavu island. It is a master of camoflage and difficult to find. I have watched one being released into a tree and it just disappears right in front of your eyes. |
Skinks
These little skinks can be seen basking in the sun during the day but scamper away when you approach.
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Skink
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Blue-tailed Skink
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The most common species seen around the resort are the green skinks and blue-tail skinks. |
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Geckos
Rarely seen during the day, the geckos come out at night to catch insects attracted to lights.
A rustle in the thatch above will almost certainly be two geckos squabling for the best vantage point, the loser usually losing his grip and falling to the ground.
Oddly enough, a lot of Fijians are terrified of geckos. I was once sitting round a kava bowl with some of the divemasters and boatmen in the main bure.
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Gehyra oceanica
Gehyra oceanica
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Lepidodactylus lugubris
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A small gecko dropped onto my shoulder and hopped off. I glanced at my shoulder an looked back. In the blink of an eye two huge burly Fijian Divemasters had turned completely white, a third had transported himself to the other end of the room and the fourth was heading full speed down the main bure front path with what appeared to be no intention of ever stopping. And just a few hours earlier these guys had been hapily diving with a school of silvertip sharks..... |
Snakes
There are three types of snake found in the Fiji Islands group. Only two of these are found on Kadavu island.
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Banded Sea Krait
(5 species - most common is Laticauda Colubrina)
This sea snake is often encountered by divers who sometimes play with the animal. We do not recommend such action. Contrary to popular belief, the banded sea krait has permanently erect fangs at the front of the mouth which can open quite wide enough to bite any part of the human body. The venom is more virulent than that of any known land snake though its venom resembles that of the Cobra. Its bold black and white banding colouration is a clear warning to all. Fortunately the krait is extremely docile and given the number of people who play with them, for all intents and purposes, can be considered harmless.
There is however one species that can be aggressive when provoked. Hydrophis melanocephalus is relatively rare but there has been one recorded fatal bite in Fiji. Hydrophis has a black as opposed to a white/yellow forehead, no large belly scales and never comes on land where it would be rendered helpless. The common Laticauda has large belly scales and is therefore able to come on land to lay its small clutch of 5 to 10 eggs. They are the only group of sea snakes to do this. All other sea snakes give birth to live young at sea.
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Banded Sea Krait
Resort guests occasionally report seeing sea snakes in the shallows however the seagrass is inhabited by a small harmless eel which mimics the coloration of the banded krait. When provoked, it even goes as far as raising its tail towards the surface mimiking a krait coming up for air. Quite harmless and very beautiful.
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Pacific Boa (Candoia bibroni)
This pretty little boa is a master of camoflage. It is generally nocturnal and spends most of its time up in the trees. Not poisonous, it kills its prey by constriction and generally feeds on mice and lizzards. Almost never seen in the resort grounds, you will need to walk in the bush to try to find one of these little boas.
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Pacific Boa (Candoia bibroni)
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Crabs
ost Fijian crabs reside on the coral reefs and seagrass flats but three types spend more time ashore than at sea.
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Hermit Crab
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Hermit Crabs
These hairy land dwelling crabs like nothing better that to cruise around at night time after a light sprinkle of rain. They use all sorts of objects as 'homes' though they never seem to use anything large enough to cover more than their back-side.
We have seen objects such as ping-pong balls and spray can tops used and even one that lugs around a short bit of metal pipe. This fellow in the picture here is going with the traditional coconut husk look.
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Land Crabs
The only evidence you are likely to see of the land crabs are their numerous burrows along the front of the resort.
They are rather shy and only come out at night time.
If you hear a rustling of the leaves outside your bure as you drift off to sleep, its almost certainly a land crab out for its nightly forrage.
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Land Crab
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Fiddler Crab
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Fiddler Crabs
There are five species of fiddler crab in Fiji though the one that inhabits the resorts shores is the yellow clawed Ucalactea. The males have two claws but one is very enlarged and the little crab usually sits by his burrow waving his big claw in the air. It is used to warn off other males and to attract females. The little crab rasps his claw against his body shell hence the name 'fiddler crab'
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