Long historical isolation and remoteness from other continents has created unique and in many respects the unique natural world of islands of New Zealand differing in a large number of endemic plants and birds.Still about 1000 years ago, before emergence on islands of constant settlements of the person, historically completely there were no mammals. The exception was made by two species of bats and the whales living in coastal waters, sea lions and seals.
Along with arrival on these lands of the first permanent residents, Polynesians, on islands Polynesian rats (Rattus exulans) and dogs have appeared. Later the first European immigrants have brought pigs, cows, goats, mice and cats. Development of the European settlements in the 19th century has caused emergence in New Zealand everything new and new animal species. Emergence of some of them has exerted extremely negative impact on flora and fauna of islands. It is necessary to carry to such animals rats, cats, polecats, rabbits (delivered to the country for hunting development), the ermines (delivered to the country for control over population of rabbits), the possum (delivered to the country for development of the fur industry). Without having natural enemies in the surrounding nature, populations of these animals reached the sizes posing a threat to agriculture, health of the population and put on a side of extinction of natural representatives of flora and fauna of New Zealand. Only in recent years some coastal islands have also been saved by efforts of environmental agencies of New Zealand from these animals that has allowed to hope for preservation of a natural environment there.
From representatives of fauna of New Zealand the birds of a kiwi (Apterygiformes) who have become a national symbol of the country are the most known. Among birds it is also necessary to note a ke (or Nestor), the takakh (or a wingless sultanka).
Only in New Zealand remains of the not flying birds of Moa exterminated about 500 years ago huge reaching height of 3,5 m have remained. The little later, presumably only about 200 years ago, has exterminated also the largest of the known species of eagles — Haast's eagle — the having wingspan to 3 meters and weighing to 15 kg.
Among the reptiles which are found in New Zealand it is possible to note a gatteriya and stsinok. The New Zealand stsinka are presented by three types: big scynk, scynk Otago, scynk Sutera. From them the first look most widely meets.The only representative insectivorous, delivered to the country and adapting to free conditions of dwelling in her, is the European hedgehog.
In New Zealand there are no snakes, and from spiders are poisonous only katipo.
29 species of fish live in fresh reservoirs of the country, 8 of which are on the verge of disappearance. About 3000 species of fish and other inhabitants of the sea live in the coastal seas. 35 endemic species of fish which don't meet anywhere any more are found in New Zealand. Two species of eels (maloplavnikovy and dolgopery) are found in waters of New Zealand; lamprey, retropinna ordinary, galaksiya. The Australian spotty cat's sharks, dramatic measures, a red sneper and King-fish, a mackerel, safe for the person, meet.
Mollusks of a pau. The Paua — the name of three types of the New Zealand large edible sea cockleshells which are relating to the Haliotidae family and distinguished from other cockleshells with extraordinary bright modulations of nacre.