New Zealand has more species of what than anywhere else in the world?

Question

New Zealand has more species of what than anywhere else in the world?

Question #148609. Asked by Otonga.
Last updated Aug 14 2021.
Originally posted Aug 12 2021 7:41 PM.

hypatia415
Answer has 9 votes

Currently Best Answer

hypatia415
5 year member
220 replies

Answer has 9 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.

Flightless birds. 16 to be exact.

https://untamedscience.com/blog/new-zealand-wildlife/#:~:text=As%20a%20result%2C%20New%20Zealand,and%20five%20species%20of%20kiwi.

I also read somewhere that it could be penguins but I couldn't find anything definitive.

Aug 12 2021, 10:06 PM

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Answer 1

The New Zealand Department of Conservation states on its website:

Thirteen of the world's 18 penguin species have been recorded in the New Zealand region (including the Ross Dependency). Nine of these species breed here.

https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/penguins/

Answer 2

Another source to support hypatia415's answer. The article notes that New Zealand's 16 species of flightless birds (out of 60 species worldwide) is the most -- but just a few hundred years ago, NZ had 32 such species. Darn terrestrial mammals:

https://mostnewzealand.com/flightless-birds.html