Extinct Animals of New Zealand

Three stages or phases can be recognised in the New Zealand extinction event on the basis of the arrival times of the most important predators on Aotearoa, the group of islands that we nowadays call New Zealand. 

Image: Giant Haast's eagle attacking New Zealand moa. Created by John Megahan. Copyright PLoS Biology. This image has been released under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 Licence.

The New Zealand extinction event began about 50 BCE with the arrival of the Pacific rat during transient visits by early Polynesian people. 

The second phase starts when the Polynesians, ancestors of modern Māori, settled in New Zealand in the late 13th century. These people started to hunt all of the larger flightless species. 

The third phase began in 1642,  when the Dutchman Abel Tasman ‘discovered’ the islands. Just as the Polynesians seem to have done, Europeans arrived first as transient visitors, skirting the shores and observing, but not founding permanent settlements. British Lieutenant James Cook began extensive surveys of the islands in 1769, leading to European whaling expeditions and eventually significant European colonisation. European settlers brought with them many more invasive alien species, like horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, Norway rats, house mice, stouts, ferrets, etc. This all led to a lot of extinction in New Zealand. 

This page features the animals that became extinct after the arrival of the Polynesians and the Europeans in New Zealand. Animals that are lost forever!

Mammals

Birds (3rd phase)

Birds (2nd phase

Birds (1st phase)

Reptiles

Amphibians

Fish

Insects

Rediscovered

Links & References

 

Mammals

Greater short-tailed bat Mystacina robusta IUCN Species Information
The greater short-tailed bat was one of only two species of short-tailed bats, a family (Mystacinidae) unique to New Zealand. It lived on North and South Island in prehistoric times and historically lived on small islands off Stewart Island. Short-tailed bats are as adept at scrambling along the ground as they are at flying. Their wings fold into pouches on the sides of their bodies, so the bats can race through burrows or scrub. The greater short-tailed bat was widespread throughout New Zealand before the Maoris arrived. In historic times, it used seabird burrows as roosts. It flew slowly, never rising more than two or three metres above the ground. It took nectar from flowering plants and was probably partly carnivorous, taking meat and fat off mutton birds and eating nestling birds. The last refuges of the bat were on Solomon and Big South Cape islands, but black rats arrived from fishing vessels in 1962 or 1963. The last bat was caught in a mist net on Solomon Island in April 1965. (Wikipedia contributors, 2006)


Birds

Bird extinctions since mid-19th century European settlement

Aukland Island Merganser Mergus australis
Chatham Island Rail Cabalus modestus
Dieffenbach's Rail Gallirallus dieffenbachii
Stewart Island Snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica iredalei
Little Barrier Snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica barrierensis
New Zealand Quail Coturnix novaezelandidae
North Island Takahe Porphyrio mantelli
South Island Kokako Callaeas cinerea cinerea
Huia Heteralocha acutirostris
The Huia was a bird that was native to New Zealand. It is now extinct, with no reliable sightings since W.W. Smith saw three birds in the Tararua ranges on 28 December 1907. Several naturalists, including Buller noted that the birds were already in decline when European settlers arrived. The Huia's distinctive white-tipped black tail feathers were often worn by Maori chiefs as a sign of their status. Such feathers were revered as taonga (treasures) by Maori. The wearing of feathers as ornaments was later adopted by Pakeha women as a symbol of social standing. The birds were inquisitive and trapped easily upon imitation of their call - in 1888, a party of 11 Maori obtained 646 Huia skins from the forest between the Manawatu Gorge and Akitio. In February 1892, regulations to make it illegal to kill or take Huia were passed; however, enforcement was not taken seriously. The visit of the Duke of York, later King George V, to New Zealand in 1902 produced a frenzied demand for Huia feathers especially after the Duke wore a Huia tail feather in his hatband. The price of feathers was reportedly pushed to one pound a piece. The then Governor-General, the Earl of Onslow, tried to provide further legal protection for the Huia but the bird was reported extinct shortly afterwards. (Wikipedia contributors, 2006; Worthy & Holdaway, 2002)
South Island Piopio Turnagra capensis
The South Island Piopio, also known as the New Zealand Thrush, was a passerine bird of the Turnagridae family. This medium-sized bird was mostly olive-brown in coloration, with rufous wings and tail, and a speckled breast. The South Island Piopio was considered to be one of the best song birds native to New Zealand. South Island piopios were omnivorous, and relatively tame to humans, as they have been recorded taking scraps of food from campers. For a long time the South Island Piopio was considered conspecific with the North Island Piopio that dwelled on New Zealand's North Island but recent studies have concluded that the two piopios are distinctly different species. The South Island Piopio was once considered common in undergrowth forests of New Zealand's South Island, until 1863 when the population began to decline. The Piopio continued to decline at a rapid rate throughout the 1880s mainly due to predation by cats and rats introduced to the island by humans, as well as some habitat destruction. By 1888 the bird was said to be the rarest in all of New Zealand, and by 1905 it was considered virtually extinct. The last confirmed specimen was shot at Oharu in 1902, although alleged sightings continued, the last being in 1963. (Wikipedia contributors, 2006; Worthy & Holdaway, 2002)
North Island Piopio Turnagra tanagra
The North Island Piopio was a passerine bird of the Turnagridae family. The North Island Piopio is now considered to be extinct. Since its discovery the North Island Piopio was considered to be conspecific with the South Island Piopio, but the two Piopio are now regarded as two separate species. The North Island Piopio was exclusive to the North Island of New Zealand and was described by Walter Buller as being common in the 1870s, although only a few specimens were ever collected. The last specimen was collected in 1900, and only a few remain in existence today located in the museums of Chicago, Tring, Philadelphia, and Wellington. Occasional sight records of people claiming to have seen the bird persisted until 1955, but the North Island Piopio is considered extinct. The introduction of foreign predatory mammals such as cats and rats to New Zealand's North Island are mostly to blame, with habitat loss also being a factor. (Wikipedia contributors, 2006; Worthy & Holdaway, 2002)
Chatham Island bellbird Anthornis melanocephala
New Zealand Little Bittern Ixobrychus novaezelandiae
Stephens Island Wren Traversia lyalii
The Stephens Island Wren is famous for being considered the only known species to be entirely wiped out by a single individual. The bird was a flightless, nocturnal native of Stephens Island, New Zealand and fed on insects. It was only seen alive by Europeans on two occasions before the entire population was killed by the lighthouse keeper's cat named Tibbles in 1894. It is the most well-known of the extremely few (five or fewer) flightless passerines known to exist in historic times, all of which were inhabitants of islands and are now extinct. The others were 2 or 3 relatives of Xenicus and the Long-legged Bunting from Tenerife. Archaeological work has revealed, however, that Traversia lyalli was widespread on the main islands of New Zealand in earlier times. Its disappearance from there was probably due to predation by the kiore (Polynesian Rat, Rattus exulans), which was introduced by the Māori. (Wikipedia contributors, 2006; Worthy & Holdaway, 2002)
New Zealand Bush Wren Xenicus longipes
The New Zealand Bush Wren, or Matuhi in Māori, is a very small and almost flightless bird endemic to New Zealand. It grows to about 9 cm long and 16 g in weight. It feeds mostly on invertebrates which it captures by running along the branches of trees. It nests on or near the ground. It was widespread throughout the main islands of the country until the late 1800s when mustelids were introduced and joined rats as predators. The only authenticated reports of the North Island subspecies (Xenicus longipes stokesi) since 1900 were from the southern Rimutaka Range in 1918 and the Urewera Ranges up to 1955. The last authenticated reports of the South Island subspecies (Xenicus longipes longipes) were from Arthur’s Pass in 1966 and Nelson Lakes National Park in 1968. There have been a few unsubstantiated reports since then from Fiordland and Nelson Lakes. The third subspecies, Xenicus longipes variabilis, the Steward Island Bush Wren or Stead’s Bush Wren, was found on Stewart Island/Rakiura and nearby islands. It is known to have survived on Stewart Island until 1951 but was probably exterminated by feral cats. It lived on Kotiwhenua (Solomon) Island until the early 1960s. It survived on predator-free Big South Cape Island until Black Rats invaded it in 1964. The New Zealand Wildlife Service attempted to save the species by relocating all the birds they could capture. They caught six birds and transferred them to Kaimohu Island where they were last seen in 1972. (Wikipedia contributors, 2006; Worthy & Holdaway, 2002)
Chatham Island Fernbird Bowdleria rufescens
Laughing Owl Sceloglaux albifacies
The Laughing Owl, Whekau or White-faced Owl, was an endemic owl found in New Zealand, but is now extinct. There were two subspecies, namely Sceloglaux albifacies albifacies from the South Island and Stewart Island, and Sceloglaux albifacies rufifacies from the North Island. It was plentiful when European settlers arrived in New Zealand in 1840. Specimens were sent to the British Museum where reports on them were published in 1845. By 1880, they were becoming rare, and the last recorded specimen was found dead at Blue Cliffs in Canterbury, New Zealand in 1914. There have been unconfirmed reports since then. In his book The Wandering Naturalist, Brian Parkinson describes reports of a Laughing Owl in the Pakahi near Opotiki in the 1940s. Laughing Owl egg fragments were apparently found in Canterbury in 1960. Extinction was caused by persecution, land use changes and the introduction of predators such as cats and stoats. (Wikipedia contributors, 2006; Worthy & Holdaway, 2002)

Bird extinctions since 14th century Maori settlement

North Island Adzebill Aptornis otidiformis
South Island Adzebill Aptornis defossor
Eyles's Harrier Circus eylesi
Chatham Island Sea-eagle Haliaeetus australis
Haast's Eagle Harpagornis moorei
Hawkins' Rail Diaphorapteryx hawkinsi
The Hawkins' Rail or the Giant Chatham Island Rail was endemic to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand, where its remains have been found on the main Chatham Island and Pitt Island. This bird stood approximately 40 cm tall and weighed an estimated 2 kg and was flightless. It is thought to have been a ground-dwelling insectivore, also feeding on fern root and capable of preying on small ground-nesting species. Recent evidence, including a letter from Sigvard Jacob Dannefarerd to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild in 1895 describing the species' appearance, behaviour and Moriori hunting method, suggests that this species survived into at least the late 1800s. (BirdLife International, 2005)
Hodgens' Waterhen Gallinula hodgenorum
Snipe-rail Capellirallus karamu
Chatham Island Coot Fulica chathamensis
New Zealand Coot Fulica prisca
Giant Chatham Island Snipe Coenocorypha chathamica
New Zealand Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles novaezealandiae
Chatham Islands Raven Corvus moriorum
The Chatham Islands Raven was native to the Chatham Islands (New Zealand). Another closely related raven species occured on the North Island and South Island of New Zealand, namely the New Zealand Raven Corvus antipodum (Forbes, 1893). Chatham Islands raven was significant larger than the New Zealand Raven, and probably the world's fourth- or fifth-largest passerine. They had long, broad bills that were not as arched as those of some of the Hawaiian Crows (Corvus hawaiiensis). Remains of New Zealand Ravens are most common in coastal sites on the Chatham Islands. On the coast, it may have frequented the seal and penguin colonies or fed in the intertidal zone, as does the Tasmanian Forest Raven Corvus tasmanicus. It may also have depended on fruit, like the New Caledonian Crow Corvus moneduloides, but it is difficult to understand why a fruit eater would have been most common in coastal forest and shrubland when fruit was distributed throughout the forest. (Gill, 2003; Worthy & Holdaway, 2002)
New Zealand Raven Corvus antipodum
The New Zealand Raven was native to the North Island and South Island of New Zealand. There were two subspecies; the North Island Raven Corvus antipodum antipodum (Forbes, 1893) and the South Island Raven Corvus antipodum pycrofti Gill, 2003. Another closely related raven species occurred on the Chatham Islands, namely the Chatham Islands Raven Corvus moriorum (Forbes, 1892). New Zealand ravens were large crows with long, broad bills that were not as arched as those of some of the Hawaiian Crows (Corvus hawaiiensis). The New Zealand Raven were significant smaller than the Chatham Island Raven, and the South Island subspecies were rather larger than the North Island subspecies. Remains of New Zealand Ravens are most common in Pleistocene and Holocene coastal sites. On the coast, it may have frequented the seal and penguin colonies or fed in the intertidal zone, as does the Tasmanian Forest Raven Corvus tasmanicus. It may also have depended on fruit, like the New Caledonian Crow Corvus moneduloides, but it is difficult to understand why a fruit eater would have been most common in coastal forest and shrubland when fruit was distributed throughout the forest. (Gill, 2003; Worthy & Holdaway, 2002)
New Zealand Musk Duck Biziura delautouri
Chatham Island Duck Pachyanas chathamica
Scarlett's Duck Malacorhynchus scarletti
Finsch's Duck Euryanas finschi
North Island Goose Cnemiornis gracilis
South Island Goose Cnemiornis calcitrans
New Zealand Swan Cygnus atratus sumnerensis
The New Zealand Swan (Cygnus atratus sumnerensis) is an extinct swan from the Chatham Islands and the South Island of New Zealand. It was originally described as a separate species (Cygnus sumnerensis) from the Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) based on the slightly larger size of the fossil bones found and the apparent absence of the Black Swan from New Zealand prior to 1864. More recent analysis of these fossils, and others, suggests that the New Zealand Swan was a subspecies of the Black Swan, and it is referred to this way in ornithology today. The swan remains found in the Chatham Islands may constitute a separate species, C. chathamensis (Oliver, 1955), but more work is needed to establish this. (Wikipedia contributors, 2006; Worthy & Holdaway, 2002)
New Zealand Pelican Pelicanus novaezealandidiae
The New Zealand Pelican is the name given to fossil remains of pelicans found in fossil deposits in New Zealand. These fossils were first found in 1930, and were initially considered a subspecies (Pelicanus conspicillatus novaezealandidiae) of the Australian Pelican (Pelicanus conspicillatus), based on size differences. It was raised by some taxonomists to a full species in 1981 (Pelicanus novaezealandidiae), however the paucity of pelican remains in an otherwise rich fossil record lead most scientists to conclude that it represents examples of vagrant (lost) Australian Pelicans. It has also been observed that New Zealand lacks the fish diversity and numbers to sustain a large fish-eating waterbird. In some migration events Australian Pelicans have been recorded as far away as Fiji, and have been seen in New Zealand. (Wikipedia contributors, 2006; Worthy & Holdaway, 2002)
Little bush moa Anomalopteryx didiformis
Upland moa Megalapteryx didinus
Heavy -footed moa Pachyornis elephantopus
Crested moa Pachyornis australis
Mappin's moa Pachyornis mappini
Stout-legged moa Euryapteryx geranoides
Coastal moa Euryapteryx curtus
Eastern moa Emeus crassus
Large bush moa Dinornis novaezealandiae
Giant Moa Dinornis robustus

For more information on the moa species you can visit: The moa species of New Zealand.

Bird extinctions before human settlement

Scarlett's Shearwater Puffinus spelaeus
Grant-Mackie's Wren Pachyplichas jagmi
Stout-legged Wren Pachyplichas yaldwyni
Long-billed Wren Dendroscansor decurvirostris
Albatross (unnamed) Manu antiquus
Narrow Flippered Penguin Palaeeudyptes antarcticus
Marples' Penguin Palaeeudyptes marplesi
New Zealand Giant Penguin Pachydyptes ponderosus
Wide-flippered Penguin Platydyptes novaezealandiae
Amies' Penguin Platydyptes amiesi
Lowe's Penguin Archaeospheniscus lowei
Lopdell's Penguin Archaeospheniscus lopdelli
Duntroon Penguin Duntroonornis parvus
Oliver's Penguin Korora oliveri
Harris' Penguin Marplesornis novaezealandiae
Moisley's Penguin Tereingaornis moisleyi
Ridgen's Penguin Aptenodytes ridgeni
Tyree's Penguin Pygoscelis tyreei
Miocene False-toothed Pelican Pelagornis miocaenus
Stirton's False-toothed Pelican Pseudodontornis stirtoni

Reptiles

Kawekaweau Hoplodactylus delcourti
 
Narrow-bodied Skink Oligosoma gracilicorpus
Northland Skink Cyclodina northlandi

Amphibians

Aurora frog Leiopelma auroraensis
Markham's frog Leiopelma markhami
Waitomo frog Leiopelma waitomoensis

Fish

New Zealand grayling Prototroctes oxyrhynchus

Insects

  Karocolens tuberculatus
  Mecodema punctellum

Rediscovered

New Zealand Storm-petrel Oceanites maorianus
On 25th January 2003 a possible sighting of the supposedly extinct New Zealand storm-petrel, Oceanites maorianus, was made by Brent Stephenson, Sav Saville, and several other birders, during a pelagic out of Whitianga, New Zealand. On 17 November 2003 Bob Flood and Bryan Thomas chartered a boat out of Auckland and chummed at a location just north of Little Barrier Island. They observed, photographed, and videoed 10 -20 birds identical to that which were seen on 25 January. An article by Bob Flood has just been published in the December 2003 issue of 'Birding World', along with superb photos by Bryan Thomas, and effectively this confirms the existence of this supposedly extinct species. Presumably the species has managed to survive on a predator-free island, possibly in the Hauraki Gulf. A priority now is to find out exactly where these birds are breeding, assess and monitor their population and put in place appropriate conservation measures.” These sightings have clearly not proved to be one-offs, as birds have been continued to be seen on subsequent pelagics off New Zealand in early 2004. For example, on 18 January 2004, up to 11 New Zealand Storm-petrels were seen, and the birds have even been filmed for New Zealand television! More information: Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ - The 'rediscovery' of the extinct New Zealand storm-petrel, and BirdLife International - News - New Zealand petrel causes a storm. The official word from the New Zealand Rare Birds Committee (part of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand) is still not out, but they are pretty confident about what has been found. 
South Island Takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri
The South Island Takahē is a flightless bird endemic to New Zealand which belongs to the rail family. It was thought to be extinct after the "last" of - to that date - a mere 4 specimens had been taken in 1898. However, after a carefully planned search effort the bird was rediscovered by Geoffrey B. Orbell near Lake Te Anau in the Murchison Mountains, South Island, on 20 November 1948. (Wikipedia contributors, 2006)

Links

New Zealand Birds & Birding - New Zealand Birds Gallery.

Kiwi Conservation Club - Extinct Birds of New Zealand.

BirdLife Species Fact Sheet - New Zealand Snipe - Coenocorypha aucklandica.

BirdLife Species Fact Sheet - Kokako - Callaeas cinerea.

More links on the page: The moa species of New Zealand.

 

References