- TT ee ee le aa ie a £8 halls 5 : ie . ws fo b a Il isehe avy aan ma unced wet Fie wren velop nn Ya and ak atoll to the 3,;16 6 f,fet of Agriha n Island in the Marian as. Flora . Vegetation varies conside high island to lo w atoll, thoughG o put and breadfruit trees are common ‘ oth. Coral atolls are Particularly ruck by ve cerized by the coco nut palm and tn Apay ,Ste ated plant associate s—breadfruit on Jean pn us and Plants of a shore nature. and dew ee, igh volcanic island s, on the other t passed f . usually have mang rove swamps ed $16 on Mi tidal flats coconu t vegetation can Redon ne slopes, and mixed forest growth € uplands. n Guam e. The Fauna leclared €a and anim es only Presum ably native lan d mals in the Territory are two of the high is lands and atoll] 8 a one sp ecies of rat were ines and Bane nt a islanders Prior to Western ands on © rental contact Three additional mn wacies of rats entered the area after ms mn and Or iental} contact. Somerenin a Worl d War IT, a spec vo ppenta ie s of sn €W got into the area and is from ne u un In the Mari anas, Truk, and a ars alls. The wa ter buffalo or and anas n from the Philip pines by the re Panis and su bsequently Spre 130 5 “pe an ad to d Palau Horses, cattle goats ne Euro S were introduced in the post. the Pean contact Period. Deer we introduced in re to “I all tbds 2 © il th,€ Marianas by the Germans an d later Carried to Ponape. Marine and shore birds abou nd in the area. Th es € include terns, alba- tropic birds, golden plovers, shear-waters, ; several specie s of heron S$ an d a cormorant. One species of rare fresh Part [—Introduc tion soe adhe “ ron ’ ‘ tos” *. . vats ¥ ° Beall ees# yoo, : ‘ ' tH eg + wa Rw oe , , ' yO “ : ; b + mnt de le ARBie 8 a a te ele hala tat AD de ne et . NASer + water duck is found in the Marianas and another in Palau. Several species of ducks migrate through the Terntory. Relatively few species of resident land birds can be found, especially on the atolls. There are, however, various species of flycatchers, warblers, honey eaters, starlings, finches, thrushes, kingfishers, gallinules, rails, doves, pigeons, parrots, cockatoos, megapodes or mound builders, vireos, swift- is found in Palau but is rare; threat of its extinction has resulted in district laws for its protection. More than 7,000 species of insects are known to be in the Territory, of which perhaps 15% have been introduced by man. Some 45% are found throughout all the islands, while the rest are endemic to specific areas. lets, owls, hawks, ospreys, bitterns, Ethnic Background Cuckoos, swallows, falcons and some The people of the Trust Territory are classified as Micronesians, except for about 1,000 inhabitants of the islands of Kapingamarangi and Nukuoro and a scattering of individuals of other racial groups. nightjars, drongoes and white-eyes. other species of land birds migrate through the Territory. There are several species of introduced birds. Two species of crocodiles (the salt water crocodile and the New Guinea crocodile} are found in Palau. One species of small blind burrowing snake is found on most of the islands in the Territory. Two species of highly venomous sea snakes are found in Palau with one of them also presentin the Marshall Islands. Also, in Palau are a tree snake, a mangrove snake, a boa, and a rare golden burrowing snake. None of these are venomous. A large monitor lizard (up to 6 feet) is found on many high and low islands. Other lizards, geckoes, and skinks of several species are abundant throughout the Territory. A rich marine fauna exists in the open sea, reefs, lagoons and shore areas. Species of fish include tuna, barracuda, sea bass, sharks, eels, snap- pers, stone fish, lion fish, flying fish, porcupine fish, gobies, archer fish, flounder, butterfly fish, surgeon fish, trigger fish and many others. Other Marine organisms such as starfish, spiny lobsters, crabs, sea cucumbers, octopi, clams, oysters, snails and sea urchins are abundant. Porpoises are common but whales are rare. The dugong or sea cow, a marine mammal, Fiscal Year 1968 *: om Physically, the Micronesians are characterized by medium stature, brown skin, straight to wavy black hair, relatively little face and body hair, and rather high cheekbones. People of the Eastern Carolines tend to have stronger Malaysian characteristics than those elsewhere in the region. A true Polynesian type is found in Kapingamarangi and Nukuoro. Today’s Chamorro inhabitants of the Mariana Islands differ considerably from the original Chamorro inhabitants whose skeletal re-. mains indicate they were a_largeboned, tall and robust people. A complex blending of several racial ele- ments over many generations has produced the Chamorro of today. Traditional customs differ among the districts as the scattered and isolated islands have led to local adaptations and inventions. There has been a basic similarity throughout, however, in general cultural characteristics such as a fine adjustment to life in a small tropical isle; a specialized technology using stone, shell, fibers and other local materials; complex class distinc- 3 ~o9F were