Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a small population size that is suspected to be declining as a result of habitat degradation and introduced predators, with no subpopulation numbering more than 1,000 mature individuals. It is therefore classified as Near Threatened.
Population justification
Numbers likely remain low throughout its range due to the small land areas and scarcity of its preferred food resources (J.-C. Thibault in litt. 2000, Thibault and Cibois 2017). The species has been described as abundant in some areas and scarce in others (Gibbs et al. 2001); numbers may be higher on some atolls which have remained free from the ravages of introduced predators (Blanvillain et al. 2002). The total number of fruit-doves is difficult to assess and few atolls have been investigated for this species, however based on a mean density of 1 bird per 5-10 ha across several visited atolls, the global population size of this species and Makatea Fruit-dove P. chalcurus together has been estimated at 4,400-9,000 birds (Thibault and Cibois 2017, A. Cibois in litt. 2023). The global population size of P. coralensis is therefore placed in the range 4,200-8,400 birds, roughly equivalent to 2,800-5,600 mature individuals, with no subpopulation likely to exceed 1,000 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The species has disappeared from atolls in the past (Tenarunga and Maturei Vavao) following large-scale expansion of coconut plantations in the 1960s (Thibault and Cibois 2017). Although not currently ongoing at such a scale, the development of coconut groves remains a threat to this species through the destruction of natural vegetation (Thibault and Cibois 2017). Predation by rats may also be driving declines. As such, although the population trend has not been assessed directly, it is precautionarily suspected to be in slow decline given the ongoing threats.
Ptilinopus coralensis is widespread throughout the islands of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia.
The species is adapted exclusively to low coral atolls, where it inhabits forest and abandoned coconut plantations, feeding on insects, seeds and fruit, usually on the ground (Holyoak and Thibault 1984, Pratt et al. 1987).
The species is vulnerable to habitat destruction including the expansion of coconut plantations (Blanvillain et al. 2002, Thibault and Cibois 2017). Predation by introduced rats (particularly Black Rat Rattus rattus) is a threat on a small number of atolls (Seitre and Seitre 1991). Hunting is not currently thought to be a serious threat, though it has been in the past (Thibault and Cibois 2017). The role of cyclones in local extinction is currently unclear (Thibault and Cibois 2017), but may represent a significant future threat.
Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known for this species.
Text account compilers
Vine, J.
Contributors
Cibois, A. & Thibault, J.-C.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Atoll Fruit-dove Ptilinopus coralensis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/atoll-fruit-dove-ptilinopus-coralensis on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.