Mammals of New Zealand

Prior to human settlement, the mammals of New Zealand consisted entirely of several species of bat and several dozen marine mammal species. Far earlier, during the Miocene, at least one "archaic" terrestrial mammal species is known to have existed, the Saint Bathans mammal. The Māori brought the kurī (Polynesian Dog) and kiore (Polynesian rat) in about 1250 CE, and Europeans from 1769 onwards brought the pig, mice, two additional species of rats, weasels, stoats, ferrets and possums and many other species, some of which cause conservation problems for indigenous species.

Native species

Three recent species of bats: the long-tailed, short-tailed and lesser short-tailed. Though they varied in range, Holocene fossils of all three species have been found near Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua at the far north of the North Island. The Miocene Saint Bathans Fauna showcases a considerably higher diversity of at least four mystacine species, a vesper bat and several incertae sedis taxa.Worthy, Trevor; Hand, SJ; Worthy, TH; Archer, M; Worthy, JP; Tennyson, AJD; Scofield, RP (2013). "Miocene mystacinids (Chiroptera, Noctilionoidea) indicate a long history for endemic bats in New Zealand". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33 (6): 1442-1448. Several dozen species of whales and dolphins including the small endemic Hector's dolphin Seven species of seal or sea lion The Miocene Saint Bathans mammal.

Conservation status The New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat is considered endangered (EN), whereas the New Zealand greater short-tailed bat is presumed extinct (EX) with the last sighting being in 1967. The New Zealand long-tailed bat is considered to be critically endangered (CR). The sei, fin and blue whales are all endangered (EN), as is the Hector's dolphin which is found only in New Zealand waters.

The Department of Conservation ranks priorities for conservation with the New Zealand Threat Classification System.

Introduced species The Māori introduced two species: the kurī (dog) and kiore (Polynesian rat). European settlers introduced all other mammal species.

+ Mammals introduced by Humans Species Year of introduction Further information Red-necked wallaby Black rat Late 1800s Cat as early as 1820 Cats in New Zealand Cattle 1814 Chamois 1907 Common brushtail possum 1837 Common brushtail possum in New Zealand Tammar wallaby Elk (wapiti) 1905 Reputedly, as a gift from US President Theodore Roosevelt European hare 1851 European hedgehog 1870 European hedgehog in New Zealand European fallow deer 1860 Ferret 1879 Goat late 1700s Himalayan tahr Early 1900s House mouse Kiore 1250Kurī1250 Least weasel Moose 1900, 1910 Moose - New Zealand Brown rat Before 1800 European rabbit 1838 European rabbit in New Zealand Red deer from 1851 Javan rusa Sambar deer 1875-76 Sheep 1773Sika deer Stoat Stoat in New Zealand White-tailed deerOnly found in Stewart Island and near Lake Wakatipu Wild boar 1773

Mammals of New Zealand

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