Mammals of New Zealand

New Zealand has very few native mammals compared with many other parts of the world. Our only native land mammals are bats, while marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and dolphins are also an important part of New Zealand’s fauna.

Many of the mammals now commonly seen in New Zealand, including possums, hedgehogs, mustelids, and deer, were introduced by people. These introduced mammals have had major impacts on native ecosystems, particularly through predation and browsing.

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