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This is a list of the native living mammals of New Zealand. It does not include introduced species, nor extinct Saint Bathans fauna. There are around 51 native mammal species in New Zealand, of which three are critically endangered, three are endangered, three are vulnerable, and one is near threatened. [1]
Prior to human settlement, the mammals of New Zealand consisted entirely of several species of bat and several dozen marine mammal species. Far earlier, during the Miocene , at least one "archaic" terrestrial mammal species is known to have existed, the Saint Bathans mammal .
The kiwi is a national symbol of New Zealand. The animals of New Zealand , part of its biota , have an unusual history because, before the arrival of humans, less than 900 years ago, the country was mostly free of mammals, except those that could swim there ( seals , sea lions , and, off-shore, whales and dolphins ) or fly there ( bats ).
The wattlebirds, Callaeidae, are a family endemic to New Zealand, but many other New Zealand birds show clear affinities to Australia, including the New Zealand pigeon and the New Zealand falcon, as well as various parrots, rails, waders, owls, and seabirds (albeit often with a New Zealand twist). Of the 245 species of birds from the greater ...
Pages in category "Mammals of New Zealand" The following 22 pages are in this category, out of 22 total. This list may not reflect recent changes. ...
In June 2006, the Trust began reintroducing species, starting with a pair of critically endangered takahē. In April 2007, three species of endangered whitebait (kokopu or native trout) were reintroduced. In May, kākā were put into a special enclosure to allow them to acclimatise before they were released; they quickly attracted wild companions.
Common name Scientific name Range Comments Pictures New Zealand greater short-tailed bat: Mystacina robusta: North and South Island Widespread on both islands in pre-Māori times, as evidenced by subfossil remains, this species was restricted to Taukihepa / Big South Cape Island and other islands off Stewart Island at the time of European arrival.
Until recently the islands had no native terrestrial mammals except for three species of bats (although terrestrial, "archaic" mammals did exist in New Zealand until 19 million years ago, in the form of the Saint Bathans mammal), [13] the main component of the fauna being insects and birds.