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List of mammals of New Zealand facts for kids

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Main page: Mammals of New Zealand

This is a list of the native living mammals of New Zealand. It does not include introduced species, nor extinct Saint Bathans fauna. There are around 51 native mammal species in New Zealand, of which three are critically endangered, three are endangered, three are vulnerable, and one is near threatened.

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range.
Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Near threatened The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future.
Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species.
Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

Mystacina tuberculata
New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat

The most distinguishing feature of bats is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals. Three species are found in New Zealand.

Order: Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises)

Through DNA fingerprinting that southern right whales are now migrating once again from sub-Antarctic islands to their ancestral calving grounds on the mainland of New Zealand
Southern right whales in Port Ross, Auckland Islands
Bryde's Whale - Auckland, New Zealand
Bryde's whale feeding in Hauraki Gulf
6(23) Sperm whale
Sperm whales made Kaikōura as a world-famous whale-watching region
Orca in front of Rangitoto - Auckland, New Zealand
Killer whales in front of Rangitoto Island
The animals of New Zealand; an account of the dominion's air-breathing vertebrates (1909) (14775451543)
Pelorus Jack
Dolphins in Milford Sound, New Zealand
Bottlenose dolphins in Milford Sound
Dolphin (7187505172)
Common dolphins in Hauraki Gulf
Schwarzdelphine
Dusky dolphins off Kaikōura
Hectors Dolphin near Akaroa
A Hector's dolphin near Akaroa
Two Maui's dolphins
Maui's dolphins

The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater. New Zealand is the first country in the world to protect marine mammals by law.

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

New Zealand Sea Lions at The Spit, Aramoana
New Zealand sea lions on Aramoana Mole in Otago Harbour
Arctocephalus forsteri (cropped)
New Zealand fur seal in Castlepoint
Momoa Southern Elephant Seal - Whakatane
Southern elephant seal basking in Whakatane

Most carnivorans feed primarily on meat. They have distinctive skull shape and teeth. Seven species are found in New Zealand, all of which are pinnipeds.

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List of mammals of New Zealand Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.