This is a list of the native mammals of New Zealand. It does not include introduced species.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
Some species were assessed using an earlier set of criteria. Species assessed using this system have the following instead of near threatened and least concern categories:
The most distinguishing feature of bats is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
Family: Mystacinidae
Genus: Mystacina
New Zealand greater short-tailed bat, Mystacina robusta CR
New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat, Mystacina tuberculata VU
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Chalinolobus
New Zealand long-tailed bat, Chalinolobus tuberculatus VU
Order: Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises)
The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater. New Zealand is the first country in the world to protect marine mammals by law.
Suborder: Mysticeti
Family: Balaenidae
Genus: Eubalaena
Southern right whale, Eubalaena australis LR/cd (nationally endangered)
Family: Balaenopteridae
Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
Genus: Balaenoptera
Minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LR/nt
Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni DD
Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN
Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN
Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus EN
Subfamily: Megapterinae
Genus: Megaptera
Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae VU (lower numbers in New Zealand waters)
Family: Neobalaenidae
Genus: Caperea
Pygmy right whale, Caperea marginata LR/lc
Suborder: Odontoceti
Superfamily: Platanistoidea
Family: Phocoenidae
Genus: Phocoena
Spectacled porpoise, Phocoena dioptrica DD
Family: Physeteridae
Genus: Physeter
Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU
Family: Kogiidae
Genus: Kogia
Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps LR/lc
Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima LR/lc
Family: Ziphidae
Genus: Ziphius
Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD
Genus: Berardius
Arnoux's beaked whale, Berardius arnuxii LR/cd
Genus: Tasmacetus
Shepherd's beaked whale, Tasmacetus shepherdi DD
Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
Genus: Hyperoodon
Southern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon planifrons LR/cd
Genus: Mesoplodon
Andrews' beaked whale, Mesoplodon bowdoini DD
Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD
Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens DD
Gray's beaked whale, Mesoplodon grayi DD
Hector's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hectori DD
Layard's beaked whale, Mesoplodon layardii DD
Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
Genus: Cephalorhynchus
Hector's dolphin, Cephalorhynchus hectori EN (endemic, endangered)
Maui's dolphin, Cephalorhynchus hectori maui CR (endemic, critically endangered)
Genus: Steno
Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD
Genus: Stenella
Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LR/cd
Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LR/cd
Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris LR/cd
Genus: Delphinus
Common dolphin, Delphinus capensis LR/lc
Common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LR/lc
Genus: Lagenorhynchus
Hourglass dolphin, Lagenorhynchus cruciger LR/lc
Dusky dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obscurus DD
Genus: Lissodelphis
Southern right whale dolphin, Lissodelphis peronii DD
Genus: Grampus
Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD
Genus: Pseudorca
False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens LR/lc
Genus: Orcinus
Orca, Orcinus orca LR/cd
Genus: Globicephala
Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus LR/cd
Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas LR/lc
Typical carnivorans feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and teeth.
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Otariidae (eared seals, sealions)
Genus: Arctocephalus
New Zealand fur seal, Arctocephalus forsteri LR/lc
Subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis LR/lc
Genus: Phocarctos
New Zealand sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri VU
Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
Genus: Hydrurga
Leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx LR/lc
Genus: Leptonychotes
Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii LR/lc
Genus: Lobodon
Crabeater seal, Lobodon carcinophaga LR/lc
Genus: Mirounga
Southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina LR/lc
