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New Zealand: Animal World
Long-term historical isolation and remoteness from other continents created a unique and largely unique natural world of New Zealand Islands, distinguished by a large number of endemic plants and birds.
About 1000 years ago, before the appearance of permanent settlements of man on the islands, mammals were historically completely absent. The exception was two types of volatile mice and inhabitants in the coastal waters of whales, sea lions (PhoCarctos Hookeri) and seals (Arctocephalus Forsteri).
Simultaneously with the arrival of the first permanent residents, Polynesians, Polynesian rats (Rattus Exulans) and dogs appeared on the islands. Later, the first European immigrants brought pigs, cows, goats, mice and cats. The development of European settlements in the XIX century has caused the emergence of new and new animal species in New Zealand.
The appearance of some of them had an extremely negative impact on the flora and fauna of the islands. Such animals include rats, cats, ferrets, rabbits (imported to the country for the development of hunting fishery), Gornostayev (brought to the country to control the population of rabbits), possesses (brought to the country for the development of the fur industry). Without natural enemies in the surrounding nature, the population of these animals reached the size of the threat to agriculture, the health of the population, and put on the edge of the extinction of natural representatives of the Flora and the fauna of New Zealand. Only B. last years The efforts of the Environmental Office of New Zealand, some coastal islands and were delivered from these animals, which made it possible to hope for the preservation of natural environmental conditions there.
From representatives of New Zealand fauna, birds are the most famous are Kiwi (Apteygiformes), who have become a national symbol of the country. Birds also need to be noted KEA (Nestor Notabilis) (or Nestor), Cacapo (Strigops Habroptilus) (or Sovic Parrot), such (notoronis HochStelteri).
Only in New Zealand, the remains of the giant non-flying birds of Moa (Dinornis), reaching the height of 3.5 m, were preserved about 500 years ago, which were allegedly about 200 years ago, was also exterminated and the largest famous species Orlov - Eagle Haast - hanged wings to 3 meters and weighing up to 15 kg.
Among the reptiles found in New Zealand can be noted by Gatteria (SPHENODON PUNCTATUS) and SCINCES (ScincIDAE). New Zealand scintings are represented by three species: large scinting, scincice otago, scinting suthers. Of these, the most widely found first.
The only representative of the insectivorous, brought to the country and adapted to free habitat in it is the European Eugean (Erinaceus Europaeus).
In New Zealand there is no snake, and from the spiders of poisonous only Katipo (Latrodectus Katipo).
In fresh reservoirs, the country lives 29 species of fish, 8 of which are on the verge of extinction. In the coastal seas, up to 3000 species of fish and other inhabitants of the sea live. In New Zealand, there are 35 endemic species of fish that are not found anywhere else. In the waters of New Zealand there are two types of acne (low-fuel and long-term); Midhoga, retropine ordinary, galaxia. There are safe for a person Australian spotted cat sharks, drummers, red snow and King Fish, Macrel
Mollusks Paua. Paua is the name of the three types of New Zealand major edible marine seashells related to the Haliotidae family and the extraordinary overgrown among other seashells.
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The vegetable and animal world of New Zealand is diverse and unique, since due to the isolation from the rest of the world, the geographical position and climate, the types of flora and fauna are preserved here, which are no longer inhabited - they are called endemics. When they represent a new Zealand in photos, they usually illustrate that animals and plants that are unknown to many.
Even before the appearance of a person on these shores, only bats, whales, sea lions and seams in coastal waters were from mammals. Textbooks on the geography of New Zealand, the opening story also associate with the appearance of such animals on these islands as Polynesian rats, dogs, then the cows, pigs, goats, cats and even mice were delivered. Practically with each immigration wave in the country appeared new animals on the verge of extinction But some of them harm the natural fauna of New Zealand. Cats, rabbits, ferrets, ermine, opossum that did not have enemies in the animal world of the islands, multiplied so quickly that they began to threaten both agriculture and health of people. Therefore, today the policy of environmental authorities is aimed at preserving the natural fauna of the islands.
Pretty livestock remains quite extensive, which allows the country to be the largest exporter of dairy products. In environmentally friendly conditions, almost the best sheep in the world, which serve not only to obtain meat, but also for the production of Lanolin from their wool, as for making yarn for amazingly soft carpets of New Zealand.
But usually pictures depict New Zealand with Kiwi bird, as well as Kea, Cacapo, Taka. In this country, there is absolutely no snakes. Among reptiles, Gatteria and Szink are considered the most famous. Of the poisonous spiders in New Zealand, only Katipa lives. Nevertheless, here lives and the well-known Yozh, who still adapted to local conditions.
The plant world can also be characterized mainly endemic. In the photos of New Zealand, you can see two types of forests: evergreen and mixed. The main forest plants are napelodes, agatis, dacrydum cypress, as well as a large number of ferns. 2 million hectares are artificial forests where you can see a radiant pine. Also, Flora New Zealand is characterized by the greatest amount of moss, half of the more than 600-tons grow only here. Alone of the herbs here can be found more than 180 species, while about 150 of them do not grow anywhere else.
But tourists should be remembered that in New Zealand at the customs will definitely be asked for things on the subject of animal and plants, bone products, bird feathers, skin, and from corals and shells - all this is forbidden. Therefore, if visits wants to keep your impressions or take souvenirs, it is better to take pictures with the image of all rare and amazing plants and animals. And even better to take pictures on their background, in multinational parks, where the best copies of the flora and fauna of New Zealand are collected and preserved.
Its uniqueness of the natural and animal world rich in endemic plants and birds is due to remoteness from other land and long historical isolating over 60-80 million years.
2. Another about 1000 years ago, when there were no permanent residents on the islands, mammals did not live on the territory of New Zealand, except for two species of bats, as well as whales, sea lions and cats that were inhabited in coastal waters.
3. The active formation of European settlements in the XIX century provoked the emergence of new types of animals. During the settlement of New Zealand lands, dogs and rats appeared on the islands, and later Europeans brought to New Zealand of goats, cows, pigs, cats and mice.
4. This was a real test for the islands fauna. Rabbits, rats, mountainous, ferrets and cats, which were delivered for hunting, achieved large sizes, because they did not have natural enemies.
5. Currently, the Environmental Office of New Zealand carefully control the Fauna of New Zealand, and some areas were completely relieved of animals representing the threat of fauna and the flora of the country.
New Zealand bird Taki
6. Two types of endemic mammals live in New Zealand, which come from rare varieties of volatile mice. New Zealand animals, which can be called the most bright representatives of the fauna of this country: Bird Kiwi, the world's largest owl Parrot Cacapo, one of the oldest reptiles - Tautara, the only mountain parrot of Kea, Gatteria, European Yozh.
7. Site New Zealand are also freshwater species of fish that twenty-nine species live here. Eight of them today are on the verge of extinction.
8. More than 40 species of ants live in this country.
9. The perpetrators of the time it was believed that snakes do not live in the territory of New Zealand. But in the 2000s, a group of researchers from Australia and New Zealand discovered the remains of these reptiles. This discovery has become proof that approximately 15-20 million years ago in New Zealand still lived snakes.
10. For what reason these animals are not measured today. A number of scientists suggests that it happened because glacial period. Snakes simply did not move cold weather, and since New Zealand Located at a sufficiently remote distance from civilization, new types of reptiles could not get here on time.
Kiwi bird
11. The symbol of New Zealand - Kiwi is positioned as a bird, although it can not even fly, she has no full wings.
12. I have representatives of this kind of uncultivny, there are no feathers, hair is growing instead, they also have very powerful paws with which these creatures go and run.
13.kivi - Night animals. They developed the ability to hide in forests or thickets of shrubs and keep a nightlife, which reduced the likelihood of being eaten by other animals. Kiwi's main enemies - birds - eagles and falcons.
14. They are very aggressive. By the way, Kiwi is not defended by the beak, like feathers, but apply their sharp claws.
15. There are five types of kiwi.
Sovie parrot Kakapapo
16. Cocapa is a single representative of the subfaming of the Soviet Parrots.
17. It is very developed facial plumage, so it has a similarity with owls.
18. Feathers from a green parrot with black stripes on the back. Cocapa has excellent wings, but due to the fact that the keel of the sternum is practically undeveloped, and the muscles are very weak, he does not know how to fly.
19. Previously, these endemics were widespread in New Zealand, but now remained only in the southwestern part of the southern island. The parrot lives in the forests and in the territories with high humidity.
20.Cakapo is the only parrot that leads mainly a night or twilight lifestyle. In the daytime time hides in minks or rafts rocks.
New Zealand Tuatara
21.Toatar is a unique animal of New Zealand, a descendant of dinosaurs.
22. It is protected at the legislative level, and the government tries to prevent the population disappearance, since everything is left hundred thousand reptiles.
23. They are very many enemies, including themselves (males of the Taucar are considered cannibals, can eat eggs and you grow upwards). They are also attacked by birds and other predators.
24.U Taucar mortality exceeds fertility. For the reproduction of offspring requires a long period.
25.This reptiles live about a hundred years. Favorite food Tautar - insects.
Ermine
26. Ermine is an animal predator, it has 34 sharp tooth and paws with chain claws. These animals are very prompt and perfectly crawled on the trees. Entry eats small rodents and birds.
27. The horny was brought to New Zealand in order to control the population of rabbits. But the animal was successfully acclimatized and began to fruit very intensively, which led to an increase in the population. So the ermine from the assistant turned into a pest, which began to exterminate chicks and eggs of local birds.
28. In New Zealand, they found the remains of more than five hundred years ago of the flutter gigantic birds, which was three and a half meters.
Kangaroo New Zealand
29. There is a kangaroo here. These animals of New Zealand prefer to lead nightlife And reside groups of several individuals. Many species of Kangaroo are on the verge of extinction.
30. New Zealand animals that cannot survive independently live in 14 national parks and hundreds of little reserves under the constant supervision of specialists. Almost all types of animals in this country are under state protection.
New Zealand giant scinting
31.The Завераванский lizards are scintures. There are three types of skinks: otago, suture and large scinting.
32. And often you can watch the rocks where they heat in the sun. The number of large scines only, according to the estimate of the Ministry of Nature Protection, is 2-3 thousand. Individuals.
33. Otago is a giant among lizards endemics and reaches 30 cm long.
34.Scins multiply every year. The offspring is usually 3-6 young. Lizards feed on insects and fruits of plants.
35. Scrights greenish-yellow leather with striped color, which provides excellent disguise for a rocky medium covered with lichens.
Sea Cat New Zealand
36. The Zaveland Sea Cat belongs to the form of eared seal. They have a grayish-brownish wool. Male possess a chic black mane.
37.Ith animals of New Zealand live across the ocean disorder, primarily on McKori Island. He is yearly inhabited by young males who still can not dismantle their own territories.
38. B. late XIX. A century, major populations of sea cats were almost completely exterminated. Currently, animals are listed in the Red Book, there are approximately 35 thousand individuals.
39. Why today will not get a snake in New Zealand? Of course, if there was such a need, snakes could be brought, at least from neighboring Australia, but the fact is that snakes in New Zealand are announced outside the law.
40. Dilute or hold this reptile house in New Zealand strictly forbidden! Also, the penalty will also be threatened with those who accidentally saw the snake, but did not report the relevant authorities.
New Zealand sea lions
41.The Zaveland Sea Lion has a brown-black color. The males are the owners of the mane, covering shoulders, because of which they seem larger and mighty. Females are much less males, their wool light gray shade.
42.95% of the population of sea cats occurs on the island of Auckland. Each men's individual defends its own territory from other males. In the battles, the most endless and strong representative won. There are approximately 10-15 thousand individuals of this species.
43. But still in New Zealand there are snakes, just not ground, and the sea - stead-shaped marine crime and yellow-protech pelamids. These reptiles were left alive only because they do not crawl into land and practically do not occur near the coast of New Zealand.
44. So why the authorities are so tremendous and categorically belong to the fact that snakes do not appear in New Zealand? And the answer is simple - snakes would immediately destroy the main symbol of the country of Kiwi.
45. The most dangerous representative of the animal world of New Zealand is a wild boar.
New Zealand Insect - Weta
46.This is inhabit West. This is a huge insect, weighing more sparrow, reminds a huge cockroach.
47. There are no mosquitoes in New Zealand.
48. Also lasts in the country brought in the Red Book. Powelliphanta Snail. She is able to devour worms that are not inferior to her in size.
49. New Zealand's coast lives the smallest kind of dolphins - Dolphin Hector. An adult person reaches 1.4 m in length, which is less than an average adult.
50. However, despite the tough control, a certain plus, in the absence of snakes in New Zealand, there is still a country is considered one of the safest countries in the world for nature travel.
photo from the Internet
Exceptionally unique. It has been preserved in pristine due to long-term historical isolation and remoteness from other continents. Some species of animals and birds, such as the symbol of the country, a fluttering bird Kiwi or the "living dinosaur" of the Lizard of Tiatara, whose closest relatives extinct 65 million years ago, live here only.
Local caves found skeletons gigantic birds of New Zealand - Moa. It reached 3.5 meters in height and was the only bird in the history of the Earth, completely devoid of wings. These unique creatures were exterminated by Maori about 400 years ago. Slightly later, presumably only about 200 years ago, the largest of the famous types of Orlov - Eagle Haast, had a scope of the wings to 3 meters and weighing up to 15 kg.
About 1000 years ago, before the appearance of permanent settlements of man on the islands, mammals were historically completely absent. The exception was two types of volatile mice and sea animals living in coastal waters: dolphins, whales, fascia, sea seals and lions. Also in New Zealand there is no snake, but from the spiders, only Katipa is poisonous.
All predatory animals of New Zealand: Rats, mice, ferrets, mountainous, opossums, dogs and cats - were delivered to New Zealand with colonizers - Polynesians and Europeans. The appearance of some of them had an extremely negative impact on the flora and fauna of the islands. Only in recent years, the efforts of the Environmental Offices of New Zealand, some coastal islands were delivered from predatory animals, which makes it possible to hope for the preservation of the original natural conditions.
Birds enjoy a great honor in New Zealand. Sowing from the plane to the airport of Auckland, you will immediately hear a polyphonic bird singing, and resting on the shore of the lake, risks to be surrounded by a flock of geese, ducks and swans. The smartest in New Zealand and the whole world of the bird is a parrot KEA - a thunderstorm left without supervision of cars, cameras and backpacks. From others birds of New Zealand It is worth noting Takaha (Takahe) or the endless Sultanka (it was considered extinct, but in 1948 it was discovered again), Kakapo (Moreporkowl-owned parrot, preventing sleeping at night with his loud cries) and the Sweet Tui (TUI).
New Zealand Waters - a native home for the smallest in the world (1.4 meters) dolphins - Hector's dolphins. They can be easily found next to the coast of the South Island.
Flora New Zealand Very diverse: it has about 2,000 plant species, 80% of which are endemics, that is, grow exclusively in this country. Especially a lot of B. nature of New Zealand Ferns. One of them is a silver or silver fern - a symbol of New Zealand and is depicted on its unofficial flag.
Another green attraction New Zealand - Trees Kauri (Kauri). They achieve colossal sizes and live a lot of hundreds of years. Not in vain, so many Maori myths and legends are connected with them. The most famous tree of Kauri is called Tana Makhuta (Tanemahuta), named after the Maori God of Forests. In height, it reaches 51 meters, its girth of 13 meters, and the age approaches the 2000s.
Beautiful tree of New Zealand - Lustukawa (Pohutukawa). It blooms fluffy bright red colors from mid-December to mid-January, and for it received its second name - Christmas tree (Newzealand'schristMastree).
New Zealand landscapes are delightedly diverse: mountains, valleys, plateau, rivers and lakes, beaches, glaciers, geysers, volcanoes and fiards, "there is everything on a relatively compact area. This makes such a fascinating. Today you can sunbathe on the beach or admire flora New Zealand, and tomorrow ride on alpine skiingAnd for this you do not need to go for the thirty lands.
20% of the country's territory is occupied by national parks and reserves with free access for everyone. All parks have excellent pedestrian trails equipped with information boards and places. Also in New Zealand there are two territories with the status of the "Territory of World Heritage". It is Tongaririro (Tongariro) in the central part of the North Island and those Vakhipounama (Tewahipounamu) in the south-west of the South Island. The latter includes national parks "Westland / TaipoTini" (Westland / Taipoutini), Mount Aspairing (MountAspiring), Aoraki / Mount Cook (Aoraki / MountCook) and Fiorland (Fiordland).
In 2005, New Zealand became the world's first country in which carbon tax was introduced. As one of the important promising areas, it is planned to become the first country in the world with a neutral balance of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, and thereby achieve recognition for the status of the purest country in the world.
New Zealand is a country that surprise every traveler The picturesque natural and rare animal world. Finding here, you literally find yourself in a fairy tale, where landscapes are striking with their primacy and greatness.
New Zealand nature and animals that harmoniously inhabitare the basis of the mood of this state.
If you are interested in what animals in New Zealand are unique representatives of the Fauna, then you it will be interesting to know Learn more about the vegetable and animal world of these islands in the Pacific Ocean.
Thousand years agoWhen there were no permanent residents on the islands, mammals did not live on the territory of New Zealand, except for two species of bats, as well as whales, sea lions and cats that were inhabited in coastal waters.
As soon as polynesians began to actively settle New Zealand lands, dogs and rats appeared on the islands, and later Europeans brought to New Zealand of goats, cows, pigs, cats and mice.
Such a turn of events became a real test For fauna islands. Rabbits, rats, mountainous, ferrets and cats, which were delivered for hunting, achieved large sizes, as they did not have natural enemies.
It caused great harm to agriculture at one time, as well as the health of the population. Flora and Fauna New Zealand was under the real threat!
To date, the Environmental Office of New Zealand carefully control the flora and fauna New Zealand, and some areas were completely spilled from the threat of fauna and flora animals.
New Zealand animals that can be called the most bright representatives of the faunaof this country:
- kiwi bird;
- parrot KEA;
- sovic parrot;
- gatteria;
- european Yozh.
Interesting fact! In New Zealand, they found the remains of exterminated more than five hundred years ago of the fluttering giant birds of mine, whose height was three and a half meters.
New Zealand animals are also freshwater species of fish that twenty-nine species live here. Eight of them today are on the verge of extinction. Also in this country lives more than 40 species of ants.
Why in new zealand there is no snake
Long period of time It was believed that in the territory of New Zealand do not live snake.
But in the 2000s A group of researchers from Australia and New Zealand discovered the remains of these reptiles.
This discovery has become proof that approximately 15-20 million years ago In New Zealand, the snakes still lived.
But for what reason these animals are not aware of today. A number of scientists suggestWhat happened because of the ice age.
Snakes simple did not move coldly, And since New Zealand is at a sufficiently remote distance from civilization, new types of reptiles could not get here on time.
The question arises "Why today will not get a snake in New Zealand?" Of course, if there was such a need, snakes could be brought here, for example, from the neighboring Australia, but the question is not in this. The fact is that snakes in New Zealand declared out of law.
Attention! Dilute or keep this reptile house is strictly forbidden! Also, the penalty will also be threatened with those who accidentally saw the snake, but did not report the relevant authorities.
But still, in New Zealand, there are snakes, just not ground, and the sea - stead-shaped marine edge and yellowochi pelamids. These reptiles were alive only because they do not crash And practically do not occur near the coast of New Zealand.
So why power so preliminary and categorically Are you still snakes in New Zealand? The answer is that the snakes would immediately destroy the main symbol of the country of Kiwi.
However, despite the tight control, a certain plus in the absence of snakes in New Zealand still there is - the country is considered one of the safest countries for traveling in nature.
Flora New Zealand
New Zealand plants are approximately two thousand diothe different species
70% of which are endemics of the islands.
As for New Zealand world-famous forestsIn which the most religious films are removed, they are divided into two types - evergreen in the south and mixed subtropical in the north.
Artificial forests, that is, planted by a person, occupy an area of \u200b\u200babout 2 million hectares. These are the forests of radiant pine, which was brought to New Zealand in the 19th century, the colonists. Luchy pine forest, which is located in the Kaingaroa Forest area is the largest on the planet Artificially grown planting.
In addition, on the islands of New Zealand hepatic moss growswhich is a large number here. To date, more than six hundred of its varieties are known in the territory of this state, of which the endemics are half.
Also in New Zealand grow thirty types of forgiveness From seventy famous in the world.
Known Flora of New Zealand and its ferns. it surprisingSince the New Zealand climate is far from the most suitable for this plant.
Catenta Silver or Silver Fern - one of the national characters New Zealand.
As for the diversity of herbs, then the island of the archipelago is growing 187 species of grassy plants, Of which 157 are growing only in New Zealand.
Here is such ambiguous and interesting Flora and Fauna in New Zealand. A large number of different types of birds are from exotic little birds to the huge non-flying representatives of Ornithofauna. Undoubtedly, the New Zealand floral and animal world is one of the most interesting for knowledge.