Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Degener and Gillaspy (1955) noted that wolf spiders were abundant on Abariringa (Canton).
The spider, Latrodectus geometricus, was common in abandoned shacks and bushes.
McIntire (1960) noted that hermit crabs were attracted to Cordia and Messerschmidia tree
groves on Abariringa (Canton) during the warmer parts of the day. It did not apprear that the
hermit crabs damaged the trees. The most numerous crabs on Abariringa (Canton) were the
small pale hermit crab, Coenobita perlatus (see also Degener and Gillaspy 1955).
McIntire (1960) noted that there were a few native spiders on Abariringa (Canton). The wolf
spider, which did not weave a web, was everywhere. The spiker, Latrodectus geometricus, a
relative of the black widow, was found in abandoned shacks and in bushes. No bites were
known from Abariringa (Canton).
The scorpion, Isometrus maculatus, in the Buthidae family was found on Abariringa (Canton)
(Wiens 1962).
The hermit crab, Coenobita perlata, and land crabs were the most conspicuous invertebrates
on Abariringa (Canton) (Garnett 1983).
On Abariringa (Canton), Cardisoma carnifex [the land crab] dispersed the fruit of Pandanus
tectorius as much as 25 m. (Lee 1985). The distance was much less on Christmas Island,
and could be related to the densities of land crabs there compared with Abariringa (Canton)
(O'Dowd and Lake 1991).
Government of Kiribati (1995) reported that hermit crabs (te makauro) were observed on
Abariringa (Tunaari), specially at Terieta, Bikentabwakea, and Umari. Land crabs (te mania)
were also observed, but were not as abundant as hermit crabs.
Neilson (2002) reported that on the southeastern edge of Abariringa (Kanton), at a large
colony of Sterna lunata (perhaps 1,000 birds), almost half of the eggs were either empty,
damaged or being eaten by hermit crabs.
Oates (2003) noted that hermit crabs, Coenobita perlatus, kept the beaches clear of dead fish
and animals. However, this was not enough food, so hermit crabs often had to eat plants and
seeds. This kept the vegetation low.
Pierce et al (2006) examined the species diversity of various terrestrial crab species on
Abariringa (Kanton), Birnie, Enderbury, McKean, Nikumaroro, Orona, and Rawaki (see
Table III-3.14). Crabs species included the hermit crab, Coenobita spp., land crab,
Cardisoma spp., and coconut crab, Birgus latra.
Table III-3.14. Crab species recorded for the Phoenix Islands, April to May 2006
(P=present but not recorded in transect; U=unknow/incomplete survey).
(source: Pierce et al 2006).
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