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National Park of American Samoabutterfly fish at Ofu Lagoon.
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National Park of American Samoa
Fishes
 
Acanthurus guttatus, maogo, whitespotted surgeonfish.
An NPS Photo by Peter Craig.
Maogo or whitespotted surgeonfish, Acanthurus guttatus, at an Ofu reef.
 

Park waters are clear and warm with abundant fish.  View the park's list of fishes (with many illustrations).

 

Because the national park contains extensive marine environments from the shorelines of four separate islands out to ocean depths beyond the outer reefs, we assume that the majority of the 991 fish species representing 113 families recorded in Samoan waters are likely also found in or near the park. This is about twice the number occurring in Hawaii, but half the number in the Indo-Pacific region. Dominant families are damselfish (Pomacentridae), surgeonfish (Acanthuridae), wrasse (Labridae) and parrotfish (Scaridae).

 

 
Safety Caution.  The channels, or awa, draining tide or surge buildup from the park's lagoons carry very strong rip currents.  Beware of these areas.  Currently the park has no search or rescue capability.  Nearest Coast Guard capability is in Honolulu.
noddy tern
Natural History Guide to the Park
The on-line version of our latest book
more...
 Coral head button
Coral Inventory
More than 200 species, many illustrated
more...
 Lined tang button
Fish Inventory
Lots of pictures of our local fishes
more...
sea slug
Marine Invertebrates,
illustrated list
more...
Pacific golden plover in breeding plumage—soon to be flying 5,500 miles to the Alaskan Arctic  

Did You Know?
During northern summers, three shorebirds--plover, turnstone, and tattler--nest in Alaska and northern Canada. After nesting, they fly non-stop over 3,000 miles of open ocean to Hawaii. After briefly resting there, they fly more thousands of miles to Samoa. The round-trip is 11,000 miles.

Last Updated: March 05, 2007 at 16:32 EST