• Samoan youth in traditional clothing.

    National Park of American Samoa

    American Samoa

Land Mammals

Flying Fox, by the dozens, soar over a Samoan ridgeline.
Flying foxes, or fruit bats, soar over a Samoan ridgeline.
NPS / BRYAN HARRY
 

Except for a few wide-ranging seabirds and marine fishes most of Samoa’s biota is strikingly different from that of all other U.S. National Parks. The only native land mammals are three bat species. For a newcomer from the ‘mainland’ this national park will likely present a bewildering array of paleo-tropical plants, forest birds, reef fishes and corals. Before your visit browse this web site for the park checklists of plants and animals (the corals and marine fishes pages are profusely illustrated).

Checklist of marine and land mammals, amphibians and reptiles.

Did You Know?

Lobster, shrimp, fish, and breadfruit—a sumptuous meal of local village subsistence resources

The national park allows subsistence fishing and farming (the parklands are theirs—it is merely leased for park purposes).  This lavish example of a village celebratory feast came from local reef waters.