- Mammals of New Zealand
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Hector's dolphins at Porpoise Bay, in the Catlins.
Prior to human settlement, the mammals of New Zealand consisted of just three species of bat, and a large number of marine mammal species.
The Māori brought the kurī and kiore in about 1250 CE,[1] and European visitors form 1769 onwards brought the pig, mice, two extra species of rats, weasels stoats, ferrets and possums and many other introduced species, many of which are causing huge conservation problems for many indigenous species, including the mammals.
Contents
Indigenous species
Main article: List of mammals of New Zealand- Three species of bats: the Long-tailed, Short-tailed and Lesser Short-tailed
- Several dozen species of whales and dolphins including the small endemic Hector's Dolphin
- Seven species of seal or sea lion
Conservation status
- The New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat is considered critically endangered (CE), while both the other bats are considered vulnerable.
- The Sei, Fin and Blue whales are all endangered (EN), and is the Hector's Dolphin which is found only in New Zealand waters.
The Department of Conservation rank priorities for conservation with the New Zealand Threat Classification System.
Introduced species
Māori introduced two species kurī (dog) and the kiore (Polynesian rat) and European settlers introduced many other mammal species.
Mammals introduced by Europeans Species Date of introduction[2] Notes Black rat Cat as early as 1820 Further information: Feral cat#New ZealandChamois Common Brushtail Possum 1837 Further information: Common Brushtail Possum (New Zealand)Elk (Wapiti) Fallow Deer 1864 Ferret 1879 Introduced in an unsuccessful attempt to control rabbits Goat late 1700s Hare 1851 Hedgehog 1870 Himalayan thar Mice Moose 1900, 1910 The last reliable sighting was in 1952 Norway rat 1800s Pigs 1773, 1777 Rabbit 1838 A major pest Red Deer from 1851 Sambar Deer 1875-76 Stoat Further information: Stoats in New ZealandWallaby Weasel White-tailed deer Agricultural animals such as cattle and sheep were also introduced, as well as alpacas and llamas.
See also
References
- ^ Lowe, David J. (November 2008). "Polynesian settlement of New Zealand and the impacts of volcanism on early Maori society: an update.". Guidebook for Pre-conference North Island Field Trip A1 ‘Ashes and Issues’: 142. ISBN 9780473144760. http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstream/10289/2690/1/Lowe%202008%20Polynesian%20settlement%20guidebook.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
- ^ King, Carolyn M. (1985). Immigrant Killers: Introduced Predators and the Conservation of Birds in New Zealand. Auckland: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195581157.
Further reading
- King, Carolyn M. (1995). The Handbook of New Zealand Mammals. Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 0195583205.
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