Extinct Species of New Zealand.On this page is a list of New Zealand's 67 species - extinguished since human ihabitation: birds, lizards, frogs, molluscs and a bat. |
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The total threatened with extinction has now increased by 416 to 2788 according to the latest (2005) New Zealand Threat Classification list published by the Department of Conservation. The latest State of New Zealand's Environment report (2007), advises that all ten indicator species are still in decline. New Zealand has been developing for 80 million years since it separated from Gondwanaland and the Maori has been here for about 1000 years. To get a perspective on the time frames NZ has been inhabited for one second of a 24 hour day. It was the last large landmass to be found. Pending risks are primarily from habit loss and introduced predators. We have removed 75% of our forests and 90% of our wetlands. New Zealand was free of mammalian predators, such as cats, rats and mustelids (stoats & ferrets etc) so our species were naive and not equipped to defend themselves. Many of our birds couldn't fly. The haast's eagle was the largest eagle in the world by far and is known to have eaten moa, a suitable size meal for such a large bird. The haast's eagle is thought to have become extinct after the moa hunters depleted its primary food source. It has been found from recent examinations of skins of the huia bird that they had their own mite which became extinct with them. A significant extinction of recent times is the South Island kokako in 2007. It had a call described as haunting similar to several pipe organs. Correction notices to web@nhc.net.nz. To share this site copy and paste www.nhc.net.nz to an e-mail providing a direct link or by links to your website |
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Extinct birds since European settlement, mid 19th centuryAuckland Islands Merganser Chatham Islands Rail Dieffenbach's Rail Stewart Island Snipe Little Barrier Snipe New Zealand Quail North Island Takahe South Island Kokako (2007) Huia, South Island Piopio North Island Piopio Chatham Islands Bellbird New Zealand Little Bittern Stephens Island Wren Bush Wren (1972) South Island Bush Wren North Island Bush Wren Stewart Island Bush Wren Chatham Islands Fernbird Laughing Owl
Extinct birds, Maori settlement to European settlementNorth Island Adzebill South Island Adzebill Eyles' Harrier Haast's Eagle Giant Chatham Island Rail Hodgen's Waterhen Snipe-rail Chatham Islands Coot Giant Chatham Island Snipe New Zealand Owlet-nightjar Chatham Islands Raven New Zealand Raven North Island Raven South Island Raven New Zealand Musk Duck Chatham Islands Duck New Zealand Pink-eared Duck Finsch's Duck North Island Goose South Island Goose New Zealand Swan Bush Moa Upland Moa Heavy-footed Moa Crested Moa Mappin's Moa Stout-legged Moa Coastal Moa Eastern Moa North Island Giant Moa Giant Moa
Extinct ReptilesKawekaweau Narrow-bodied Skink Northland Skink
Extinct BatsGreater Short Tailed Bat (Last seen April 1965)
Extinct AmphibiansAurora frog Markham's frog Waitomo frog Stereospondyl
Extinct FishNew Zealand grayling (about 1940)
Extinct InsectsMecodema punctellum
Extinct MolluscsPlacostylus ambagiosus gardneri Placostylus ambagiosus hinemoa Placostylus ambagiosus lesleyae Placostylus ambagiosus priscus Placostylus ambagiosus spiritus Placostylus ambagiosus worthyi |
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KawekaweauPhoto - Aaron Matthew Bauer Licence Go to lizards to learn more aboutKawekaweauHoplodactylus delcourti |
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Wren©
NHC
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Kokako
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Stephen Island Wren © Dr Paddy
Ryan
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Last
record of Grayling fishing 1923. 30 to 40 were caught.
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Photos of Huia clickhere© Dr Paddy
Ryan
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Cant
remember©
NHC
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Tommy Solomon who died in 1933 was the last full
blooded Moriori who inhabited the Chatham Islands. Rekohu, land of the
mist.
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