Giant wētā
Image: Sabine Bernert | ©

Introduction

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

    New Zealand has a diverse and interesting population of invertebrates. They play a vital role in maintaining many of New Zealand’s native bird populations and are fundamental to ecosystem processes.

    Many of New Zealand’s invertebrates are flightless and are facing extinction, for many of the same reasons that our native birds are. Other threats include habitat modification and displacement by exotic invertebrate pests.

    Back to top