National Park of American Samoa Animals

The animal life of National Park of American Samoa is unique among the U.S. national parks. Key animal forms (from the flying fox, or fruit bats, in the mountains to the massive coral reefs of the marine depths) shape all natural ecosystems here. Flying fox are the primary terrestrial pollinators and thus, not surprisingly, this rain forest is dominated by fruit-bearing species--in contrast to Hawaii where the native forests are pollinated largely by nectar seeking birds and insects. The coral fringing reefs of the park shelter the greatest marine biodiversity in the U.S. and its possessions. The more than 800 native fish and 200 coral species of the park are bewildering and awesome.