As Maori and Europeans settled New Zealand, they hunted birds and brought predators including rats and stoats. New Zealand is home to some of the most incredible wildlife you’ll ever see. Bats and the long extinct Saint Bathans mammal are the only land mammals known to have inhabited New Zealand before humans arrived. These tiny critters were once quite common throughout the country, but many have since relocated to the offshore islands because of predators. Depending on what stands out to you most, we’ve even made suggestions on what to do for your visit to the Long White Cloud. The weka are known to steal food and shiny objects from unwitting campers and travellers, and will eat just about anything. This, and loss of habitat, led to the extinction of a number of birds including the moa and huia. (Edit: New Zealand does have a couple venomous spiders – only one of which is native – but it's very rare to see or be bitten by one.) There are giant snails and tree daisies, flightless birds and 1,000-year-old trees – but few reptiles. The kiwi is a nocturnal, flightless bird that lives on the forest floor. One of New Zealand’s most iconic species, the Kiwi is a flightless bird characterised by its hair-like plumage and long, thin bill. Home » New Zealand Information » Native Animals. New Zealand, © Copyright 2011 - 2020 Love New Zealand. From albatrosses to yellowheads, learn more about some of New Zealand's native birds. Bats, or pekapeka, are particularly special in New Zealand as they are the only native land mammal of New Zealand. Two species of koura exist, the larger of which is found on the eastern end of the South Island and Stewart Island. Native birds, marine animals, insects, mammals – there are loads of awesome critters to discover. They are in danger of extinction in the medium term if nothing is done to reverse their population declines. We coordinate the banding of birds within New Zealand. New Zealand has many unique native fish, insects, birds, lizards and frogs. However, introduced land mammals like rabbits, stoats, possums, cats, dogs, rats, etc. Not only is the tuatara an animal that’s completely unique to New Zealand, it is also the last surviving species of the Sphenodontia – an order of reptiles that thrived during the dinosaur age some 200 million years ago. No New Zealand native animal list would ever be complete without mentioning the country’s most famous bird. The South Museum in Invercargill features a large exhibit and breeding program. Native Animals. New species of weta continue to be discovered – the last find was made just under 30 years ago. Whether you are along the shore, at sea or in the mainland, there is an abundance of creatures for you to see. The tuatara is a lizard-like reptile that can be found living in the wild on offshore New Zealand islands. Provided you keep a clear distance, you can spot these birds on the South Island’s Banks Peninsula (near Christchurch), Stewart Island, and its surrounding areas. To add to their unusual nature, tuatara are known for preferring cool climatic conditions not exceeding 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). Learn more about Aotearoa's largest home of animals. Species programmes. They are hard to spot because of their dark-green shells, which camouflage quite well with the rocks down below. New Zealand has the tuatara, geckos and skinks, and four species of native frog (pepeketua) in this group. Being an isolated country for millions of years, the wildlife in New Zealand has evolved to be quite unique. Male sea lions are darker in colour than females and the species has a life span of 25 years. Ad Sponsored . Not only is the tuatara an animal that’s completely unique to New Zealand, it is also the last surviving species of the Sphenodontia – an order of reptiles that thrived during the dinosaur age some 200 million years ago. The Kaka is a lively parrot, with two sub species - one that inhabits the North Island and the other inhabiting the South Island. Many of New Zealand's native species are on the decline and some, like the kakapo, are on the verge of extinction. New Zealand has only one native mammal. This is an incomplete list of extinct animals of New Zealand. The kiwi is the New Zealand national icon. A white-tailed spider is a native animal of Australia but it is common to be seen in New Zealand. Labour, NZ First at war over Wairarapa as Ron Mark calls out 'cocky', 'arrogant' opponent. Get all-in-one protection for your devices. In the wild, they are found on various offshore islands. Following this arrival, Europeans came to New Zealand to live in the late 18th century. 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