Atoll fruit dove

Atoll fruit dove
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Genus:	Ptilinopus
Species:	P. coralensis
Binomial name
Ptilinopus coralensis Peale, 1848

The atoll fruit dove (Ptilinopus coralensis) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and plantations. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Distribution and Population

The atoll fruit dove is widespread throughout the islands of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia. In a 1999 survey it was found to be uncommon on five out of eight islands visited, but others have found it to be abundant on some atolls which have remained free from the ravages of introduced predators.

Ecology

The atoll fruit dove is the world's only dove in the tropical Pacific that has adapted exclusively to low coral atolls. It lives in forests and abandoned coconut plantations. It mainly feeds on insects and seeds, usually on the ground. This species also eats the leaves of the "tafano" or "kahaia" (Guettarda speciosa ) trees with odorous flowers.

Threats

The atoll fruit dove is threatened by predation by rats that have established colonies on a small number of islands were this lives. The species is also vulnerable to habitat destruction due to deforestation and the destruction of old, abandoned coconut plantations. The species is rather tame and is rare in inhabited areas making hunting a possible threat.