Fernando de Noronha Archipelago support large populations of
migratory and resident birds. The island is home to the largest concentration of
tropical seabirds in the Western Atlantic. Among the migratory species found within the
island group are Black Noddy (Anous minutus); Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus);
Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata); Fairy Tern or White Tern (Gygis alba);
Red-footed Booby (Sula sula); Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra); Brown
Booby (Sula leucogaster); Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificans),
White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) and Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon
aethereus). A few land birds are found inland on Fernando de Noronha, including the
endemics Noronha Vireo (Vireo gracilirostris) and Noronha Elaenia (Elaenia
ridleyana). Other land birds are Cocoruta (Elainia spectabilis), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) and Eared
Dove (Zenaida auriculata).
Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas)
reproduce on Fernando de Noronha, and Juvenile Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)
use the islands for feeding and growth. The TAMAR-IBAMA Project has been monitoring areas
of major concentrations of these turtles in the archipelago since 1987.
Two species of lizards occur on the island,
Mabuia (Euprepis atlanticus), which is endemic and Teju (Tupinambis merianae),
which was introduced by humans in 1960s. to control rat populations, but prefers prey such
as the eggs and the young of birds and turtles. There are also two endemic invertebrates,
a Wasp (Polistes ridleyi), and a species of Gammarus, endemic in lake and streams;
an endemicWorm Lizard,(Amphisbaena ridleyi), abundant on Morro do
Pico; and an endemic genus of Dactyloscopidae fish found in a tide pool. There are no
extant indigenous mammals on Fernando de Noronha. Baia de Golfinhos has an exceptional
population of resident Dolphin (Stenella longirostris).
Fernando de Noronha also contains the only
remaining sample of the Insular Atlantic Forest and the only oceanic mangrove in the South
Atlantic region. At the time of Amerigo Vespucci's visit in 1503, this
island was believed to be almost entirely covered with forest. Although only patches
of secondary forest remain today, they provide critically important habitat for the
endemic fauna and flora of the archipelago and so deserve full protection. In all over 400 plant species have been recorded,
including 3 endemic species: the gameleira Ficus noronhae, the mulungo Erythina velutina
and the burra leiteira Apium escleratium. The island is now largely dominated by shrubby
and grassy vegetation, with a few trees, principally represented by the Nyctaginaceae,
Bignoniaceae, Anacardiaceae, Rubiaceae and Euphorbiaceae.
Dolphin (Golfinhos) (Stenella
longirostris).
Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata
magnificens).
A Crab.
A Turtle.
Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata
magnificens).
Fishing on the beach.
The small islands, islets, and rocks where
the seabirds nests.
