Field Guide to the Wildlife of New Zealand

Field Guide to the Wildlife of New Zealand

Author: Julian Fitter

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2022-01-13

Total Pages: 915

ISBN-13: 147298126X

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A portable, photo-packed guide for all visitors to the country. New Zealand's dramatic scenery is home to some equally dramatic wildlife, featuring a host of endemics found nowhere else in the world. From giant wetas and the ancient Tuatara to a suite of beautiful birds, including flightless wonders such as the Kiwi and Kakapo, these animals help make New Zealand one of the world's greatest wildlife-tourism destinations. Although there have been severe losses due to introduced predators, the country has a fiercely determined conservation sector, and the future looks bright. This fully revised and updated second edition of Julian Fitter's classic photographic field guide illustrates most of the vertebrate species to be found on the islands, there, as well as a large number of typical invertebrates and flora, with the photography accompanied by concise species texts. Reader-friendly and portable yet covering everything the visitor is likely to see, this book is an invaluable companion for anyone visiting these biodiverse Pacific islands.


Vegetation of New Zealand

Vegetation of New Zealand

Author: Peter Wardle

Publisher: CUP Archive

Published: 1991-09-19

Total Pages: 706

ISBN-13: 9780521258739

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A comprehensive account of the vegetation, its origin, ecology, biogeography and community structure.


Wildlife of New Zealand

Wildlife of New Zealand

Author: Julian Fitter

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2021-05-18

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 0691212473

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The essential field guide to the wildlife of New Zealand Wildlife of New Zealand is the leading field guide to the distinctive flora and fauna of this amazing country. Fully revised and expanded, this handy pocket guide includes up-to-date descriptions of all manner of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, insects, seashore species, trees and shrubs, grasses, fungi, and lichen, and new sections look at fish and places to visit. Accompanied by hundreds of color photographs and current maps, the book’s succinct text contains information on identification, distribution, and biology. The detailed introduction covers New Zealand’s habitats, geography, and geology, and discusses current conservation issues. The guide also contains information on national parks and useful websites and contacts, as well as a glossary and comprehensive index. Wildlife of New Zealand is an indispensable traveling companion for anyone interested in this incredible area of the world. Fully revised and expanded edition Handy, compact format Updated species accounts accompanied by hundreds of color photographs Extensive new section on places to visit


A New Zealand Book of Beasts

A New Zealand Book of Beasts

Author: Annie Potts

Publisher: Auckland University Press

Published: 2014-03-01

Total Pages: 342

ISBN-13: 1869407725

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Touching on indigenous Maori relationships with the now-extinct, flightless moa; the attitudes of Pakeha, or European, settlers toward sheep; the iconography of whales and dolphins; the problems of pest-control; and the pleasures of pet-keeping, this modern-day bestiary is a fascinating study of human–animal relations. In the book’s four parts, the authors unravel the contradictory ways New Zealanders nurture and eradicate, glorify and demonize, cherish and devour, and describe and imagine animals. The study brings together insights from New Zealand’s arts and literature, popular culture, historiography, media, and everyday life to describe and analyze their interactions with nga kararehe and nga manu, the beasts and birds of the land. In doing so, it illuminates fundamental aspects of New Zealand society: how New Zealanders understand their own identities and those of others; how they regard, inhabit and make use of the natural world; and how they think about what they buy, eat, wear, watch, and read. Rich, multifaceted, and engaging, A New Zealand Book of Beasts satisfyingly explores how culture both shapes and is shaped by the “beasts” of Aotearoa.


Ghosts of Gondwana

Ghosts of Gondwana

Author: George Gibbs

Publisher:

Published: 2016-10

Total Pages: 416

ISBN-13: 9780947503086

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Have you ever wondered why New Zealand's plants and animals are so different from those in other countries? Why kakapo is the only parrot in the world that cannot fly, or why the kiwi lives here and nowhere else? New Zealand is an extraordinary place, unique on earth, and the remarkable story of how and why life evolved here is the subject of Ghosts of Gondwana. The challenge of explaining New Zealand's natural origins is picked up in this fully revised edition of the popular award-winning book. It presents the latest scientific research in highly readable form, highlighting studies that reveal the deep historical background of our landscapes, fauna and flora - from ancient frogs and moa to delicate insects and the magnificent southern beech forests. It introduces the latest discoveries and resolves past issues like the 'Oligocene drowning' hypothesis. Exciting fossil discoveries are revealed and new scientific technologies and approaches to the discipline of historical biogeography are discussed - approaches that range from undersea geology to molecular clocks - and it inevitably draws attention to the debates and conflicts that distinguish different schools of opinion in this holistic branch of theoretical science. This revision incorporates the results of 10 years of intensive scientific research and includes four entirely new chapters to: focus on 'yesterday's maps' to draw attention to the ephemeral islands in our history that have possibly acted as stepping stones for terrestrial animals and plants but today have sunk into the sea; incorporate the author's own special interest in an ancient group of 'jaw-moths', unknown and unnoticed by most people but with a strong message that New Zealand is part of the world when it comes to explaining where our fauna have come from; present recent research findings on our huge flightless birds, the ratites; and include New Zealand's terrestrial molluscs into the story. Ghosts of Gondwana identifies New Zealand as one of the most challenging places on earth to explain, but it's readable, engaging style and revised illustrations render this often-controversial discipline of science into a format that is accessible to any reader with an interest in natural history and the unique environment of New Zealand.


The Handbook of New Zealand Mammals

The Handbook of New Zealand Mammals

Author: Carolyn King

Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING

Published: 2021-01-20

Total Pages: 577

ISBN-13: 1486306292

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The Handbook of New Zealand Mammals is the only definitive reference on all the land-breeding mammals recorded in the New Zealand region (including the New Zealand sector of Antarctica). It lists 65 species, including native and exotic, wild and feral, living and extinct, residents, vagrants and failed introductions. It describes their history, biology and ecology, and brings together comprehensive and detailed information gathered from widely scattered or previously unpublished sources. The description of each species is arranged under standardised headings for easy reference. Because the only native land-breeding mammals in New Zealand are bats and seals, the great majority of the modern mammal fauna comprises introduced species, whose arrival has had profound effects both for themselves and for the native fauna and flora. The book details changes in numbers and distribution for the native species, and for the arrivals it summarises changes in habitat, diet, numbers and size in comparison with their ancestral stocks, and some of the problems they present to resource managers. For this third edition, the text and references have been completely updated and reorganised into Family chapters. The colour section includes 14 pages of artwork showing all the species described and their main variations, plus two pages of maps.


Collins Field Guide to New Zealand Wildlife

Collins Field Guide to New Zealand Wildlife

Author: Terence Lindsey

Publisher: HarperCollins (New Zealand)

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 375

ISBN-13: 9781869508814

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First published in 2000, the Collins Field Guide to New Zealand Wildflife quickly became a classic of its kind. Familiar to both national and international travellers keen to identify the birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, freshwater fish and invertebrates commonly encountered in this country, its combination of authoritative yet clear and precise textual descriptions and stunning photographs proved an instant winner. Now, more than 10 years on, this classic field guide has been updated and extended to make it even more useful to travellers with an interest in natural history and ecology. Retaining its useful glovebox-friendly format, the significantly expanded text will also include the latest research findings and changes in classification and nomenclature that have occurred in the past 10 years, along with new photographs where appropriate. Including both native and introduced species, each entry succinctly describes both habits and habitats, distribution, classification, breeding patterns, food and recognition tips to assist amateur identification.


The Meaning Of Trees

The Meaning Of Trees

Author: Robert Vennell

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2019-04-23

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 1775491617

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The history and use of New Zealand's native plants A guide and gift book in equal measure, this treasure of a book pays homage to New Zealand's native plant species. The Meaning of Trees tells the story of plants and people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Beautifully illustrated with botanical drawings, paintings and photographs, it shows us how a globally unique flora has been used for food, medicine, shelter, spirituality and science. From Jurassic giants to botanical oddballs - these are our wonderful native and endemic plants, in an exquisite hardback edition.


Austral Ark

Austral Ark

Author: Adam Stow

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 687

ISBN-13: 1107033543

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A detailed, research-informed synthesis of the current issues facing the Australasian biota and the challenges involved in their conservation.