Living National Treasures: New Zealand |
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Checklists of Endemics Swallowtail & Milkweed Butterfly Species 0 |
New
Zealand has a highly distinctive flora and fauna, especially at higher
taxonomic levels (it ranks in the top three in number of endemic animal
families). New Zealand forms its own biodiversity hotspot on
land
(Biodiversity
Hotspots) and also has a remarkable level of endemism in
marine life (Treasures
of the Sea) . An overview of New Zealand's
biodiversity can be found at (Biodiversity
Information Online). Representatives of families of birds unique to New Zealand include the Great Spotted Kiwi (Save the Kiwi), the Kokako (TerraNature), the South Island Wren (ARKive), the Stitchbird (ARKive), and the extinct Upland Moa (Te Papa). Other endemic birds include the Yellow-eyed Penguin (doc.govt.nz), the Snares Crested Penguin (NZ Penguins), the Southern Royal Albatross (ARKive), the Kakapo (ARKive), the Orange-fronted Parakeet (doc.govt.nz), the Kea (doc.govt.nz), the New Zealand Pigeon (Wikipedia), the Blue Duck (doc.govt.nz), the Paradise Shelduck (NZ Birds), the Takahe (doc.govt.nz), the Tui (doc.govt.nz), the Wrybill (Ocean Wanderers), and the Chatham Islands Black Robin (doc.govt.nz). The New Zealand Lesser Short-tailed Bat (EDGE) is the sole surviving member of the family Mystacinidae. Other endemic mammals include the Long-tailed Wattled Bat (TerraNature), the New Zealand Sea Lion (SCS), and Hector's Dolphin (ARKive). Archey’s Frog (EDGE) is one of four species in the endemic family Leiopelmatidae (NZ Frog). The Brother’s Island Tuatara (ARKive) and Northern Tuatara (Zealandia) are the only members of not only an endemic reptile family the Sphenodontidae, but of an entire order, the Rhynchocephalia (or Sphenodontia). Other endemic reptiles include the Nelson Green Gecko (NZHS), the Jewelled Gecko (NZHS), the Forest Gecko (NZHS), the Harlequin Gecko (NZHS), the Otago Skink (coet.org.nz), the Chevron Skink (doc.govt.nz), and Whitaker's Skink (Te Ara). The Torrentfish (NIWA) is sometimes considered to represent an endemic family, the Cheimarrichthyidae. Other endemic freshwater fish include Stokell’s Smelt (NIWA), the Black Flounder (NIWA), the Alpine Galaxias (NIWA), the Northland Mudfish (NIWA), the Longfin Eel (NIWA), and the Tarndale Bully (NIWA). Endemic marine fish include the Draughtsboard Shark (Wikipedia), the Striped Clingfish (Ryan Photographic), the Estuary Stargazer (Web NZ Fish Guide), the Southern Lemon Sole (FishBase), a hagfish Neomyxine biniplicata (rsnz.natlib.govt.nz), the Cryptic Triplefin (FishBase), the Oblique-swimming Triplefin (Ryan Photographic), the Fiordland Brotula (Te Ara), and the Scarlet Wrasse (eol). Insect families found nowhere else include the New Zealand Batfly (NZ Geographic), primitive moths Mnesarchaeidae (Tree of Life), scale insects Phenacoleachiidae (Scale Insects), a parasitic wasp Maamingidae (Scientific American), and several beetles: Agapythidae (Wikispecies), Cyclaxyridae (Wikispecies), and Metaxinidae (Wikispecies) . The Giant Weta (Te Papa) is the world's heaviest insect. Other endemic insects include the Giraffe Weevil (Landcare Research), the Huhu Beetle (Te Papa), the Cromwell Chafer (ARKive), the New Zealand Bush Giant Dragonfly (TrekNature), a cicada Amphipsalta zelandica (Landcare Research), the Forest Ringlet (Markku Savela), the Puriri Moth (Landcare Research), the world's skinniest caterpillar Houdinia flexilissima (Landcare Research), and the New Zealand Glowworm (Te Ara). Other endemic invertebrate families include millipedes Schedotrigonidae (Wikispecies), amphipod crustaceans Phreatogammaridae (Royal Soc. NZ), lace corals Cinctiporidae (NHM-London), and the bioluminescent New Zealand Freshwater Limpets (National Waterways Project). Endemic land snails include the Flax Snail (ARKive), Kauri snails (doc.govt.nz), and Powelliphanta snails (doc.govt.nz). Endemic marine molluscs include the Paua (Te Papa), the Golden Volute (NZ Mollusca), and a nudibranch Janolus eximius (Sea Slug Forum). Other endemic invertebrates include a giant springtail Holacanthella (Wikispecies), the Nelson Cave Spider (ARKive), and five velvetworm species (Landcare Research). The over 1800 vascular plant species restricted to New Zealand include the Kauri (TerraNature), the Totara (Gymnosperm Database), the Chatham Island Christmas Tree (ARKive), the Kermadec Pohutukawa (Wikipedia), the Silver Tree Fern (Te Papa), and the national flower, the Kowhai (Wikipedia). Endemic genera include the Kaka-beak (ARKive), the Odd-leaved Orchid (NZ Native Orchids), the Campbell Island Daisy (NZPCN), the Chatham Island Forget-me-not (NZPCN), the Toropapa (NZPCN), the Damnamenia (NZPCN), the New Zealand Gloxinia (NZPCN), the Elingamita (NZPCN), the Yellow Pine (Univ. Auckland), the Toro (NZPCN), the Pīkao (doc.govt.nz), the Dactylanthus (doc.govt.nz), and the Cypress Hebe (NZPCN). The Tawari (NZPCN) is often placed in its own endemic family, the Ixerbaceae. See also Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau. |