The descendants of some animals and plants introduced into these islands during the Holocene thrived and evolved during millions of years completely isolated from mainland.
The New Zealand Bears are a family of bear-like insectivores descended from the European Hedgehog. They are omnivorous, though some are more carnivorous/herbivorous than others and live in all habitats of New Zealand. All species are solitary, with the obvious exception of a mother caring for her hoglets.
The largest species is the Mega-grizzly (Gigaerinaceus atrox). It is 3-4ms long and weighs about 500kg. Though it is primarily herbivorous, browsing on high and low vegetation, it will also scavenge meat, scare smaller predators away from their kills and even fishes in rivers and the sea.
The smallest species is the New Zealand Pixie Bear
The Kauhoekina (Aquaerinaceus novaezealandiensis) is an aquatic descendent of the European Hedgehog native to the coast of New Zealand, river deltas being the furthest inland they go. Even though it now swims its spines are still present and have not changed in size, though they are folded down tightly against its back when swimming. Their feet are webbed for both swimming and for walking on mud and sand. Underwater sight is their main sense but on land hearing and smell serve it fine. The animal part of their diet is made up of invertebrates like worms, snails, crustaceans and aquatic insect larvae while the plant part of their diet is made
The Ihuhihi (Erinosphalax lophorhinus) is a fossorial descendent of the European Hedgehog native to New Zealand. As it now lives underground it has no need for defensive spines and they have been reduced to almost nothing. Their feet too have been altered for altered for burrowing and are wide and spade shaped. They are entirely blind, and instead use their ears and fleshy growths on its nose to find their way around. Their nose has developed tentacle like growths which enable them to feel prey the moment it comes in contact with it. They feed on insects, worms and other invertebrates. Ihuhihi's have no defined territories and instead burrow
The Cynofelids are a genus of cats found in the mountains of New Zealand descended from the domestic cat, so named because of dog like features and behaviour. Their legs have lengthened, their tail has shortened, their jaws are larger and more powerful. They chase their prey until it eventually tires out, the kill it by biting. They live and hunt in packs, made up of females and subordinate males who are ruled by a dominant male.
The largest species is the Maned Cynofelid (Cynofelis leoides), so named because of the males manes. The are 1.5m long and weigh between 50 and 79kg.
The smallest species is the Tiny Cynofelid (Cynofelis nanus). It
While the term “New Zealand Wasps” is the common name for the genus Novaezealandivespa, it is also a broad term referring to all the wasp species in New Zealand, no matter which introduced species they evolved from. Members of Novaezealandivespa live in arboreal colonies reaching a maximum of 10,000 individuals reaching lengths of 15mm ruled by a single queen measuring about 20mm. The workers hunt for insects to feed their larvae and for nectar and fruit to feed themselves and the queen. They live in forests.