Native animals

Birds

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.

Reptiles and frogs

The herpetofauna animal group includes reptiles and frogs. New Zealand has tuatara, geckos, skinks, and four species of native frog.

Bats/pekapeka

Bats are New Zealand's only native land mammals.

Marine mammals

New Zealand marine mammals include many species of dolphins, seals and whales.

Invertebrates

Invertebrates have no backbone or spinal column. New Zealand invertebrates include crayfish, snails, octupus, weta and coral.

Freshwater fish

New Zealand has nearly 57 native freshwater fish species.

Marine fish and reptiles

Find out about sharks/mangō, spotted black grouper, sea snakes, kraits and turtles.