Animalscaretips
Humpback Whales A species that Tonga is arguably most famous for is its humpback whales, present in Tonga's waters between June and October. Humpback whales take an amazing 4,800km (3,000-mile) journey from Antarctic waters to Tonga's tropical waters to mate and calve each year.
- How many animals are in Tonga?
- What is the name of the only mammal native to Tonga?
- How did Tonga get its name?
- What is the name of the capital of Tonga?
- Are there poisonous snakes in Tonga?
- What is the national flower of Tonga?
- What is Tongan traditional food?
- What does the Tongan flag look like?
- What race is Tonga?
- Who found Tonga?
- Why is Tonga so special?
- Does Tonga have a king?
How many animals are in Tonga?
(Whistler 1992). Plant diversity on individual islands ranges from 340 species on Tongatapu and 300 species on 'Eua, to 145 species on Late, and 107 on Vava'u (Sykes 1981). The herpetofauna of Tonga, consisting of 20 known species, is considered depauperate.
What is the name of the only mammal native to Tonga?
Order: Chiroptera (bats)
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight.
How did Tonga get its name?
Etymology. In many Polynesian languages, including Tongan, the word tonga comes from fakatonga, which means "southwards", and the archipelago is so named because it is the southernmost group among the island groups of central Polynesia.
What is the name of the capital of Tonga?
Nukuʿalofa, capital and chief port of Tonga, on the northern shore of Tongatapu Island, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Its deep-draft harbour is protected by reefs. Landmarks include the Royal Palace (1865–67, home of the Tongan royal family), on the seafront at the end of the old wharf, and the Royal Tombs.
Are there poisonous snakes in Tonga?
Tongan Animals - photos
Tonga has few land animals and no poisonous land snakes. The biggest island, Tongatapu has some native birds. Included is the endemic malau, and native lorikeets and the koki parrot.
What is the national flower of Tonga?
Uses. The heilala flower is considered the most chiefly of flowers in Tongan culture. It is prized for its fragrance and often used to make garlands or kahoa. Heilala is traditionally used medicinally for morning sickness; as an eyewash; for skin rashes and stomach ache.
What is Tongan traditional food?
The staples of Tongan foods are pork, chicken, beef, sheep ribs and of course fish to name a few popular meats. Add in some coconut milk, taro leaves and various starches such as yams, taro, sweet potatoes and tapioca and you can taste the true Tongan cuisine.
What does the Tongan flag look like?
The flag of Tonga consists of a red field with a white canton charged with a red couped cross. Adopted in 1875 after being officially enshrined into the nation's constitution, it has been the flag of the Kingdom of Tonga since that year. The constitution stipulates that the national flag can never be changed.
What race is Tonga?
Tongans, who are ethnically Polynesian with a mixture of Melanesian, account for over 98% of the inhabitants of the country. 1.5% are mixed Tongans, while the rest are European, particularly British, mixed European or other Pacific Islander.
Who found Tonga?
The first Europeans arrived in 1616, when the Dutch explorers Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire spotted Tongans in a canoe off the coast of Niuatoputapu, and the famous Abel Tasman followed soon after.
Why is Tonga so special?
This is partly because Tonga is the only Pacific Island nation never colonised by a foreign power. Uniquely, Tonga has also never lost its indigenous governance. After over 1000 years of rule, today's monarchy and its structure still remain the most powerful and influential entity in Tonga.
Does Tonga have a king?
ʻAhoʻeitu Tupou VI (Tongan: 'Aho'eitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho; born 12 July 1959) is the King of Tonga. ... He was officially confirmed by his brother on 27 September 2006 as the heir presumptive to the Throne of Tonga, as his brother (a bachelor) had no legitimate children.
