Wildlife of the Maldives

Recent scientific studies suggest that the fauna varies greatly between atolls following a north–south gradient, but important differences between neighbouring atolls were also found (especially in terms of sea animals), which may be linked to differences in fishing pressure – including poaching.

Many of the natural habitats of local species have been severely threatened or destroyed during the past decades of development.

Coral reef habitats have also been damaged, as the pressure for land has brought about the creation of artificial islands.

Scaevola taccada, Pemphis acidula, Tournefortia argentea, and Guettarda speciosa are very common and often dominant there.

Sometimes dense coconut plantations and moist soils allow the growth of understory trees, like Morinda citrifolia or Guettarda speciosa.

Fourteen species over ten genera are native to the Maldives, including one fern, Acrostichum aureum.

There is a species of gecko, as well as one species of agamid lizard, the oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor),[3] the white-spotted supple skink (Riopa albopunctata), the Indian wolf snake (Lycodon aulicus) and the brahminy blind snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus).

The southern burrowing frog (Sphaerotheca rolandae) is found in a few islands, while the Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) has a more widespread presence.

Cats, rats, and mice have been introduced by humans, often invading the uninhabited areas of islands and becoming pests.

[7] The islands of the Maldives themselves have been built by the massive growth of coral, a colony of living polyps beings.

Spiders exhibit remarkable affinity with those found in the southwestern coast of Indian mainland and Sri Lanka.

Sea cucumbers are now a source of income, being exported to east Asian markets, however, they were not traditionally fished locally.