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Leiopelma frogs
Land snails
Tuatara |
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Two species of flightless brown teal are endemic to New Zealand and are some of the rarest
ducks in the world. Anas nesiotis and A. aucklandicus are closely related,
and found only on their respective bleak but beautiful subantarctic islands. They were
originally on the New Zealand mainland, and are related to three flighted species, the brown
teal A. chlorotis which is endemic to the mainland, and the Australian grey teal
A. gibberifrons and chestnut teal A. castanea. |
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Auckland Island teal Anas aucklandica
The flightless Auckland Island teal is endemic to the Auckland Island group.
It has had an easier survival than its close Campbell Island relative, because it is on
small islands and islets off the main Auckland Island that are rat free. The
two subantarctic teals are the smallest of the Australasian teals, with shorter pointed
wings. They are semi-nocturnal and feed and roost in kelp beds, as well as
on land.
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The flightless Campbell Island teal is critically endangered and the world's rarest duck.
It was thought to be extinct for 100 years, before 20 survivors were found in 1972 on Dent
Island, a tiny rock islet. Captive-bred birds originating from one female, are
being sent back to their former range on Campbell Island, which is the last stop
before Antarctica. After reaching the next lowest population to black
robin, it has survived New Zealand's second-most critical brink of extinction.
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Brown teal (Pateke) Anas chlorotis
Unlike its subantarctic relatives, the brown teal can fly, however it is less
interested in it than typical ducks. It is endemic and endangered.
The main population of the North Island subspecies is on Great Barrier Island, and there
are small groups at two Northland locations, and on Kapiti, Mana and Tiritiri Matangi
Islands. A few South Island subspecies survive at one location in Fiordland. Brown
teal arrived in New Zealand much later than A. aucklandica and A. nesiotis
about 10,000 years ago, and are more closely related to the Australian chestnut teal and
grey teal.
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Grey teal Anas gibberifrons
Grey teal is another small flighted teal that is more widespread in Australia, and migrated
to New Zealand in the 19th century. Although it became widely distributed throughout New
Zealand, the population is limited to a few locations. Grey teal are one of the country's
smallest ducks, that has a preference for nesting in holes in trees. |
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Photo Credit
Right top: Campbell Island teal, male, Garry Norman
Center top: Auckland Island teal, Rod Morris
Center middle: Campbell Island teal, female, Garry Norman, Crown Copyright ©
Department of Conservation
Center bottom: Brown teal, Copyright © Geoff Moon
Left 2nd from top: Takahe
Left 5th from top: Kokako
Left 6th from top: Short-tailed bat, Dick Veitch
Left 7th from top: Tusked weta
Left 8th from top: Archey's frog
Crown Copyright © Department of Conservation
Left 9th from top: Kauri, Alexander Turnbull Library
Illustration Credit
Left 3rd from top: John Gerrard Keulemans 1842-1912,
Huia (male and female) Heteralocha acutirostris 1888.
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand must be obtained
before any re-use of these images. |
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International Threatened
and Endangered Listings
2004 IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species
Campbell Island teal
Anas nesiotis
Critically endangered
Brown teal
Anas chlorotis
Endangered
Auckland Island teal
Anas aucklandica
Vulnerable
United States Threatened
and Endangered Species,
Foreign Listed Species
Campbell Island teal
Anas nesiotis
Endangered |
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New Zealand Department of Conservation Threatened Species List
Campbell Island teal
Anas nesiotis
[1] Nationally critical
Brown teal
Anas chlorotis 'North Island'
[2] Nationally endangered
South Island brown teal
Anas chlorotis 'South Island'
[1] Nationally critical |
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