New Zealand is known as the seabird capital of the world and is also home to a number of forest birds that live nowhere else on Earth.
Herpetofauna is the animal group that includes reptiles and frogs. New Zealand has tuatara, lizards such as geckos and skinks, and four species of native frog.
Bats are New Zealand’s only native land mammals. There are two surviving species: the long-tailed bat and the short-tailed bat.
Find out about marine mammals that live in our waters, including many species of dolphins, seals and whales.
Find out about animals that have no backbone or spinal column such as insects or mollusks and protected corals.
View information on New Zealand's native freshwater fish.
About 66 types of sharks are found in New Zealand waters ranging in size from the tiny pygmy shark which grows up to 27 cm long to the 12-metre long whale shark.
The value of conservation
Animals of the Chatham Islands
DOC HOTline - 24 hour emergency number
Phone 0800 DOCHOTline (0800 362 468) to report:
Sick or injured wildlifeWhale or dolphin strandings
