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Your task is to explore New Zealands flora and fauna in more depth.
Below is a list of endemic, non endemic and introduced Flora and Fauna of
New Zealand.
Choose 20 of them. You may also select flora and fauna that is not included
on the list.
For each of the 20 chosen you must give a description of:

Identifying features
Habitat and distribution.
You must include if they are:

Native, endemic or introduced to New Zealand


Rare or extinct
Endangered or considered a pest.

Plants: Manuka, Ferns, Nikau Palm, Pohutakawa, Kowhai, Karaka, Kauri,


Rimu, Kahikatea, Tree Fuchsia, Rata, New Zealand Beech, Totara, Matai,
Hebe, Gorse, Mountain Daisy, Pepper Tree, Flax, Toi Toi, Native Clematis,
Passion Fruit, Tussock, Mount Cook Lilly, Old Mans Beard
Birds: Kiwi, Royal Albatross, Petrel, Little Blue Penguin, Cormorant, Gannet,
Oystercatcher, Kakapo, Native Pigeon, Kaka, Kea, Sparrow, Blackbird,
Finch, Morepork, Rifleman, Fantail, Thrush, Rainbow Lorekeet
Marine Life: Hector Dolphin, Maui Dolphin, Sperm Whale, Bottle Nose
Dolphin, New Zealand Fur Seal, Trout, Salmon, Blue Cod, Fresh Water
Crayfish, Shortjaw Kokupu, Eel
Animals & Reptiles: Sheep, Ferret, Stout, Possum, Thar, Tuatara, Geckos,
Skinks, Archers Frog, Long Tailed Bat, Short Tailed Bat, Feral Goat
Insects and Invertebrates: Weta, Wasp, Bee, Argentine Ant, Powelliphanta

1. Toi Toi
There are five different kinds of Toi Toi native to New Zealand. They are growing in
clumps up to 3m in height and reclassified from the Cortaderia genus in 2011. Toi
Toi has many fine hanging branches; the direction of flower head is dropping. The
distinctive of flower head is white/cream in a soft, plume-like and the leaves do not
break when tugged hardly. The Maori used the toi toi leaves to make baskets,
mats, wall linings and roof thatching. It was also used to make containers to cook
food in hot springs and so on.
The largest toi toi, C. splendens, distribute in Northland, Bay of Plenty and
Waikato, which is a species of lowland sand dunes, cliffs and rocky places. Then,
Cortaderia toetoe is restricted to swamps and wet ground in the North Island south
of Tauranga. The habitats for C. fulvida (North Island) and C. richardii (South
Island) are grow in wet places, stream, lake and forest margins, and disturbed
hillsides, from sea level to the subalpine zone. The fifth species of toetoe (C.
turbaria) grows in sphagnum swamps and on peat on the Chatham Islands.
The amount of toi toi in New Zealand is abundant. However, the Chatham Island
toetoe is listed as nationally critical, with just a few hundred plants known from 10
populations, because of farm stock, fungal disease, floods, fire, and competition
from introduced plants.
2. Metrosideros excelsal
Metrosideros excelsal is a coastal native tree in New Zealand. It is belong to
myrtle family, Myrtaceae. It is one of twelve Metrosideros species endemic to New
Zealand. It can be found perched on rocky, precarious cliffs; also it plays an
important role in New Zealand culture. It distribute in the North Island of New
Zealand, which from New Plymouth to Gisborne.

Metrosiders excelsal grows up to 25 meters in height. It usually grows as a multitrunked spreading tree. Its trunks and branches are sometimes festooned with
matted, fibrous aerial roots. The oblong, leathery leaves are covered in dense
white hairs underneath. The flowers are open from November to January, and in
the later December, it will cover by brilliant crimson flowers. Therefore the
nickname of Metrosiders excelasl is New Zealand Christmas Tree. In the shore of
Rotorua lakes, it has pink shaded flowers and yellow flowered has been found in

1940 on Mtiti Island in the Bay of Plenty. Also, Metrosiders excelsal is


endangered, because possums eat the leaves of the trees.

3.

Cythea dealbata
Cythea deablata is endemic to New Zealand; other common name is the silver
tree fern or the silver fern. It grows on the most parts of the North Island and South
to the Catlins area on the east and to about Karamea on the west to the South
Island. The silver ferns can grow in both dry and damp places. New Zealand is a
temperate oceanic climate, temperature and humidity change; therefore it provides
a good condition to the fern. Cythea dealbata can grow to a height of 10 meters
and up to 8 mwters in diameter. The leaf looks like mimosa. The back of the leaf of
the fern can reflect light at night. New Zealander believe that silver fern can reflect
that the New Zealand's national spirit, so that the plant has become the symbol of
New Zealand's unique and honorary preventative. Now, the whole nation can find
the pattern of silver fern.

4. Sophora tetraptera
Sophora tetraptera is endemic to New Zealand. It distributes all over the main
islands of New Zealand, but it is deficient in parts of Northland. Sophora tetraptra
can grow up to 25 meters height; usually it has a single trunk, the branches is
weeping and spreading. Its leaves grow up to 150 mm long, imparipinnate,
moderately to sparsely hairy, hairs, straight, appressed. Tree can grow up to 25 m
tall, usually a single trunk. Inflorescences are racemose with up to 7 flowers and
color is yellow.
The main threat that faces all wild New Zealand kowhai species is the risk posed
through planting for revegetation and horticultural purposes of hybrid material,
foreign species, such as the Chilean Pelu (S. cassioides) and also of kowhai
species outside their natural range. In many places S. microphylla occurs as
isolated stands within otherwise cleared alluvial forest, and in this situations the
loss of trees over time is inevitable. The species is genuinely uncommon in
Northland, and in that area inadequately represented within reserves and other
conservation land.

5. Manuka
Manuka is native plant to New Zealand, it also called tea tree. It has a variable
plant form, from small shrubs to tall trees which grow up to 10 meters tall. But all
the this species have same character, they have sharp tipped leaves, large,
solitary white or pink flushed flowers, with distinctive short, dark red stamens, and
persistent greyish white nut like capsules. Manuka is common throughout the New
Zealand, it distribute in lowland to low alpine regions up to 1800 meters above sea
level. And also, it can be found in many different habitats, such as wetlands, river
gravels and dry hillsides. After they mature, it has very strong ability to tolerant of
drought, waterlogging, strong winds and frost. In addition, it can grow at less
fertile, colder, wetter and more acidic sites than other. Maori are used red wood of
Manuka to produce paddles, weapons, spade blades and bird spears. However,
people think Manuka are unwanted scrub, it is often eliminates the potential for
further forest regeneration.
6. Bottle Nose Dolphin
The bottlenose dolphin has a long and blunt beak. The body show different shades
of grey color, from darker to lighter on the belly. They have quite different size, is
from 2.4 to 4 meters. Its weight is around 250 to 650 kilograms. They are mainly
distributed in the temperate and tropical ocean in the world. Fish and marine
invertebrates are their main foods. Every three or five years, the females breed
baby, and calves suckle for about two or three years. They can live for 40 year or
more. Bottlenose swimming speeds is 5-11km per hour. In a short time, their
speed is up to 70 kilometers an hour. They are really friendly, lively and full of
curiosity. They like follow ships. Shakes are probably the most important predators
of them. In New Zealand there are three main areas that you can find them, Bay of
Island, Fiordland and Marlborough Sounds.
7. Sperm Whale
Sperm Whale is one of the easiest whales that people can identify by see their
angled and bushy blows at sea. It makes them easy to spot even though they
rarely show much more above the surface. Sperm whales have wrinkly skin and a
large rather square head. They have purplish brown or dark grey skin with white
underneath. They only have one dorsal fin; it has been reduced to a low hump. On
the top left side of the snout is their blowhole. They can grow up to 11 to 18 meter
in length. They are almost all around in the world, but have a little distribution.
They prefer to live in deep water which is over 200m depth and normally found
offshore and areas with submarine canyons, for example, Kailoura. It is a main

home for Sperm whale, whatever the resident or transient individuals. In any
season there about 85 sperm whales shown there, almost are male.
They eat large amount of organisms, mainly squids. The typical habits for them are
ice free water. Sharks, killer whales and false killer whales are the natural threats
for them.
8. Salmon
Salmon is introduced fish in New Zealand. The salmon found in New Zealand is
either North American Chinook or Quinnat salmon. The New Zealand Marine
Department has introduced Chinook salmon in to south island. Most of salmon
productions are produced in the Marlborough Sounds and Stewart Island. And all
of the freshwater farms are in the South Island.
Salmon also called gaza door fish, scientific name salmon, is a one of famous
fresh water fish in the world. Mainly it distributed in the Pacific Ocean to the north
and Europe, Asia, America's north. Salmon body is almost flat, back uplift, tooth
sharp, small scale, silver, spawning period has orange stripe.
9. Long tailed bat
Long tailed bat in science name called Chalinolobus tuberculatus (Gray). The
long-tailed bat is unique, in that it is one of New Zealands three native and
endemic land mammals. The long-tailed bat is very small. The adult weight
ranging from 710 grams, and with a wingspan of approximately 260mm. The
dorsal side is covered with a fine, silky hair, which ranges in colour from black to a
dark reddish-brown. The long-tailed bat is endemic to New Zealand, although the
genus Chalinolobus is found throughout Australia. It is thought that C. tuberculatus
is derived from either C. picatus or C. gouldii and has been evolving in isolation
here for a long time.
Most of the long-tailed bats in Canterbury can be found in Peel Forest, Talbot
Forest, Hanging Rock, and around the Opihi river system. Long-tailed bats are
remain in this highly modified habitat, including fragmented forest, shows that the
long-tailed bat is very flexible in it. The long-tailed bat is distributed throughout
almost all of New Zealand, and through varying habitat types.
The long-tailed bat can also be found on Great and Little Barrier Islands, as well
as on Kapiti Island (Molloy, 1995). Long-tailed bats can be found at altitudes from

sea level through to approximately 1000m. We can find the bats in the wide range
of habbitats, such as lowland and montane indigenous forest and remnants, exotic
forest, farm land and limestone caves and outcrops. Long-tailed bats are most
abundant in areas of native forest.
Long-tailed bat is one of only two species of native terrestrial mammals in New
Zealand. The long-tailed bat can be found in varying habitats, but its numbers are
declining. With specific conservation measures, hopefully the long-tailed bat will
remain an example of New Zealands unique fauna for generations to come.
10. Hector dolphin
Hector dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) is part of the four dolphins in the genus
Cephalorhynchus and is found only in New Zealand. It is about 1.4 m in length; it
is one of the smallest cetaceans, and New Zealand's only endemic cetacean.
Thirty years ago there were over 26,000 Hector's and Maui's dolphins. Today, due
to human activity, there is a struggling population of around 7,270 Hector's
dolphins - and Maui's are the rarest marine dolphins in the world with around 110
left.
Hectors dolphin is the smallest of the delphinids. Mature adults have a total length
of 1.2-1.6 m and weigh 4060 kg. It is unique in pale grey but closer inspection
reveals a complex and elegant combination of colours. The back and sides are
predominantly light grey, while the dorsal fin, flippers and flukes are black. The
eyes are surrounded by a black mask, which extends forward to the tip of the
rostrum and back to the base of the flipper.
Hector's dolphins are endemic to the coastal regions of New Zealand. The species
has a patchy distribution around the entire South Island, although there are only
very occasional sightings in the deep waters of Fiordland. The species has a
preference for shallow; coastal waters less than 100 m deep. This means they are
most commonly seen close to shore, although in shallow regions they have been
sighted up to 34 km from the coast. In some areas, there is a pronounced
seasonal difference in distribution, with dolphins being sighted further offshore and
in deeper water in winter, presumably in response to movements of their prey
species.
11. Powelliphanta

Powelliphanta, common name also called amber snails, is a genus of large, airbreathing, carnivorous land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. The
survival status is in endangered. These snails are under serious threat or even in
danger of extinction. They have no defence against introduced predators, such as
common brushtail possums, (Trichosurus vulpecula), and rats. Possums have
been shown to eat up to 60 snails in one night. The genus Powelliphanta is
endemic to New Zealand and contains ten species, including 34 subspecies,
which are found from Mt Egmont and Lake Waikaremoana in the north to
Resolution Island, Lake Monowai and the Mataura Ranges in the south.
Powelliphanta is endemic to the Horowhenua lowlands.
Shell generally, similar to Paryphanta Albers, but with the last whorl pulled in closer
to the preceding whorl, and with a colour pattern of concentric or radially arranged
bands, usually of alternating and contrasting colours. More important is the paucity
of lime compared with conchin in the shell.
It is distribution North Island of New Zealand, in and south of the Ruahine Range
and South Island. Powelliphanta are carnivorous and eat mostly earthworms or
slugs. They are nocturnal. They need moist surroundings and thus they live buried
under leaf mould and logs. These snails live mostly in tiny pockets of moist native
bush and large native forests.
12. Ferret
The ferret is a domesticated mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo. They have
brown, black, white, or mixed fur. They have an average length of 20 inches (51
cm) including a 5 inch (13 cm) tail, weigh about 1.54 pounds (0.72 kg), and
have a natural lifespan of 7 to 10 years.
Farmers demanded that ferrets be introduced into New Zealand to control the
introduced rabbit, a serious agricultural pest. ferrets's range and habitat New
Zealand have been limited to pastoral habitats also around rough grassland,
riverbeds, scrub-land and the fringes of nearby forests. Disturbing information has
been revealed which shows that ferrets are penetrating deep into the forests in
Northland. Ferrets are trapped to protect vulnerable species, such as penguins
and kiwis, although they are difficult to control. "They are tenacious and wary
creatures, which makes controlling ferrets a difficult proposition requiring
considerable resources."

Being so closely related to polecats, ferrets are quite easily able to hybridize with
them, and this has occasionally resulted in feral colonies of polecat-ferret hybrids
that have been perceived to have caused damage to native fauna, perhaps most
notably in New Zealand. As a result, some parts of the world have imposed
restrictions on the keeping of ferrets. It has been illegal to sell, distribute or breed
ferrets in New Zealand since 2002 unless certain conditions are met.
13. Blue cod
Blue Cod belong to the Pinguipedidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. Their
body colour changed in different age. Normally, their body color is blue with
greenish side and a golden brown stripe above each eye.
Blue cod can find in the Marlborough Sounds and off Wanganui. But, it is common
in colder waters from Cook Strait south and around the Chatham Islands. They like
living in shallow water which is around the rocky coasts and down to 100m in
areas of rocky bottom, with patches of sand and weed. It is carnivore. It eats a
number of marine animals, such as pilchards, sprats, mullet, rock cod, and red
pigfish.
Blue cod can live to 17 years and the body of length about 60cm and the weight
up to 4kg. For average weight is half to 1kg. It can also change sex from male to
female.

14. New Zealand Pepper tree


The maori name of pepper tree is Kawakawa. It is a native coastal shrub.It can be
2 - 3m tall. The leave of this plant has a romantic shape: heart-shaped.the color of
pepper tree is between dark green and yellow green.
It has distinctive dark brown, zigzag branches and swollen at the nodes. When
kawakawa become mature, the color of the leaves of female plant turns a yellow to
orange. In the early of a year (January and February), the tree produce some fruit
for native birds.
Kawakawa grow beside coastal cliffs, sand dunes and lowland forests. It can be
found in the North Island and Northern half of the south Island. Moist rich and free
draining soil is the best environment to plant pepper trees. It cannot live with
strong sun or without sunshine
.
Its fruit and leaves have medicinal properties. People can make tea using the
leaves. Making tea using leaves is also a custom. For example, it can help people
to cure the toothache.

15. Kea
The kea is an intelligent and an entertaining bird of great curiosity. Most New
Zealanders, especially South Islanders, will be familiar with the kea. To most New
Zealanders especially South Islanders, the kea is one of the most well-known and
one of the most easily recognised native birds. They are familiar with its green
coloured feathers, orange colour under its wings and its distinctive character. The
kea is a large built parrot normally with body length of 46 50 cm; it has broad
wings and a short tail. The kea has mostly olive-green coloured feathers with dark
scaling; the feathers on its head and neck are darker than that on its chest and
belly and even brighter green on its back and wings. One of the most distinctive
features of the kea is the bright orange-yellow coloured feathers on the undersides
of its wings. In addition mature keas have brown cheeks.
The species Nestor notabilis is endemic to New Zealand and is not naturalised in
other parts of the world. Nestor notabilis do not have a wide distribution across
New Zealand. Mainly confined to the mountainous regions of the South Island, the
kea is only occasionally found in the North Island. Living throughout the Southern
Alps the kea can be found from the St. Arnaud and Raglan ranges in the north, to
the Humboldt Mountains in the south. In addition kea can also be found in
Fiordland, north-west Nelson (Golden Bay) and in the seaward Kaikoura
Mountains.
The natural and favoured habitat of the kea is closely related to potential food
sources. As suggested by the title of mountain parrot, keas can be found in
vegetation at the higher altitudes of mountain regions; usually only to within 500
metres either side of the bush-line.
The natural range of the kea is from sea level up to 2000 metres in the Southern
Alps.
16. Geckos
The jeweled gecko (Naultinnus gemmeus) is a bright green lizard with white or
yellow stripes or splotches that run the length of its back. But male jewelled
geckos in Canterbury are unique in that they are usually brown, grey and white.
The average gecko is 160 mm long, including its tail that accounts for almost half
of its overall length. The jeweled gecko has long clawed toes that are adapted to
climbing the trees and bushes they live in.

The jeweled gecko dwells in forests, shrubland, and tussock grasslands. Jeweled
geckos prefer forest trees less than 2 metres high. Their slender clawed toes allow
them to climb branches with ease, and their markings help them hide very well
amongst the leaves.
The jeweled gecko is endemic and native to New Zealand, which means it is the
only place it occurs naturally. New Zealand is also the only place you can expect to
see one in the wild, as it has not been naturalized elsewhere. In New Zealand
range, jeweled geckos live in the south-eastern part of the South Island, east of
the Southern Alps and from mid- Canterbury south to Stewart Island. The most
significant populations occur on Banks Peninsula near Christchurch and the Otago
Peninsula near Dunedin. In Canterbury Natural Range, geckos are primarily found
on Banks Peninsula.
17. Fresh Water Crayfish
Fresh water crayfish is native to New Zealand. There are two species freshwater
crayfish in New Zealand, which are Northern Koura and Southern Koura, they are
belonging to Paranehorps. Northern Koura found throughout the North Island and
in Northern and West Coast of the South Island. They are smaller than Southern
cousins and also less robust and hairy. They grow up to 70mm in lengths and lives
about 3 years. Usually, they act at night habitat of lakes, streams, and wetlands,
where they can get aquatic insects and vegetation.
Freshwater crayfish are a keystone species as their function of environment
system. They also provide an important food source for larger fish and waterfowl.
All koura are not migratory, they carry their eggs and developing it under their tails.
Juveniles are released from the adult, until them able to fend for themselves
immediately. The habitat deterioration and the introduction of exotic fishes
including trout, it cost the lost from a significant proportion of their historical range.
Southern Koura lives in east and south of the South Island and Stewart Island.
They are larger than Northern Koura; average length is about 80mm long. Also
they have distinctively, hairy spinier pincers. Otherwise they are very similar with
the Northern Koura (Paranephrops planifrons). Like northern cousins, they
normally hide in streams and rivers between stones and cobbles. In the daytime,
they burrow into the muddy bottoms at depth, and rise to the shallows to feed at
night.

They can also burrow down into the bottoms of temporary water pool that dry out,
waiting until the water returns. However, pollution and habitat damage that has
occurred in the headwaters of their water bodies, it might the reason of the local
extinctions in New Zealand.
18. Kiwi
Kiwi is a flightless bird endemic to New Zealand. Its genus is Apteryx and family
Apterygidae. New Zealander call themselves Kiwi as a nickname, Kiwi is
becomes an icon of New Zealand in the national. Kiwis body grows up to a size
like chicken, weight between three and nine pounds. Kiwi has small and coarse
short body, long and pointed mouth, strong legs, degenerate wings and hairy
feather and not tail. Mostly, they act in nocturnal. They are normally live in scrub
and native grasslands.
The kiwis long slender bill has nostrils at the lower end. They use its excellent
sense of smell and flexible bill to find food, such as worms, insects and grubs.
They also eat leaves, berries and seeds. There are five kinds of kiwi in New
Zealand. Brown Kiwis, the Little Spotted Kiwi and the Great Spotted Kiwi have
close relationship. They can live up to 20 years. They have distribute all over
around New Zealand, such as Whangarei, Moehau, Tongariro, Haast and
Okarito,etc. But the rate of kiwi populations is decreased.
19. Eel
Eel is native freshwater fish to New Zealand. There are two main types of eel in
New Zealand, which are the short fin and the long fin. Because the loss of
wetlands and historical commercial fishing practice, hence, there are fewer eels in
New Zealand today. They use around 25 years to migrate to the Pacific Ocean to
breed and die. Eels are secretive, mainly act in night and prefer habitats with
plenty of cover. The long fin is one of the largest eels in the national. It can only
found in the rivers and lakes of New Zealand. Long fin eel is declining now.
Long fin eel can find all around in New Zealand. Though, they mainly in river and
inland lakes, but also can find in almost all types of waters, usually inland from the
coast.
Eels are growing up from 1mm to 2m long in length. They grow only 15-25mm per
year compare with other fish, they grow really slowly. But it can live for many
years, the large long fins have been found is at least 60 years old. Its weight can
up to 40kg. The shape of eels is elongate, slender bodied fishes, like a tubular.
The color of long fin is mainly dark brown to grey black. Eels eat live food, such as

insect larvae, worms and water snails. After they get bigger, it stars to eat fish,
fresh water crayfish and small birds ducklings.
20. Mount Cook lily
The Mount Cook lily is quite most well-known alpine plants. It is native plant to
New Zealand. It grows in sub alpine to alpine herbfields in the South Island
Mountains from Marlborough to Stewart Island from 700m to 1500m. It is adapted
to grow in infertile soils and it favors stream banks and damp locations in scrub
and grasslands. The Mount Cook lily is also growing by people, a large amount of
water, good drainage and shadow in the hot area is necessary, and it cannot be
tolerated in soil nutrient level is high.
Mount Cook lily is belongs to buttercup family and is sometimes known as the
giant buttercup. All the plants are stomatal leaves; it helps water in and out of the
leaves to control the temperature of leaves. Based on they mainly grows among
rocks. It makes big difference of temperature in the day and night. The threats for
Mount Cook lily is come from introduced animals, such as deer, chamois and
Himalayan tahr. They decimated the number of Mount Cook lilies.

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