Biodiversity in Kiribati (KIR)
| FishBase | Complete | Literature | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Families | Species | Families | |||
| Marine | 603 | 169 | No | |||
| Freshwater | 1 | 1 | Yes | Microsoft, 1996 | ||
| Total | 656 | 191 | No | |||
Ref. Microsoft, 1996
| Conservation | Kiribati is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs, which are an important resource for tourism and fishing. Marine fishing has increased significantly since 1980, however, and the reefs have been damaged. |
| Geography and Climate |
Kiribati consists of 33 coral islands and atolls, including Tarawa, Banaba, the Maiana Atoll, Rawaki, and eight of the Line Islands, including Kiritimati (Christmas Island), the nation’s largest island and the Pacific’s largest atoll. The islands are mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by reefs. They are divided by both the Equator and the International Date Line.
Kiribati has a tropical climate that is moderated by trade winds. Daytime temperatures are usually above 28°C. The rainy season lasts from October to March. Typhoons can occur any time but are concentrated from November to March. Ref. Microsoft, 1996 |
| Hydrography |
There are no freshwater habitats. Ref. Microsoft, 1996 |