Listed below are animals
that might be expected to be common in some but not all New Zealand
rivers. Some animals, like blue duck, are quite rare or confined
to very restricted areas. Locally, some of these rare species
may be quite common.
There are many other
freshwater animals but this list represents the ones most important
and most easily monitored at the various school and community
levels.
Birds
Pukeko, Australian coot, Banded rail, Spotless crake, Marsh crake, (all rails)
Little black shag, Pied shag, Little shag, (all cormorants)
White faced heron, White heron, Australasian bittern (large waders)
Paradise shelduck, Blue duck, Mallard, Grey duck, Grey teal, Brown teal (ducklike birds)
Kingfisher, Swallow.
Fish
Long finned eel, Short finned eel, (Native species).
Inanga, Kokopu, Koaro, Bullies, Grayling (Native species).
Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Salmon, (Introduced game fish).
Carp, Perch, Mosquito fish / Guppy (Introduced fish).
Amphibians
Green frog, Golden bell Frog, Tadpoles. (Introduced)
Insects
Dragon flies, Damsel flies, May flies, (describe body colours and size)
Caddis flies (describe : horny, sandy, spiral, stick, leaf, or stone)
Stone fly, Dobson fly,
Mosquito, Midge, Sandfly, Crane fly, Drone fly,
Water boatman, Backswimmer, Water measurer, Pond skater
Water beetle
Crustaceans
Koura (FW crayfish), freshwater shrimp,
Shield shrimp, Water flea, Hopper, Seed shrimps
Molluscs
Freshwater mussel,
Dark water snail, Spiny water snail, Decapitated water snail
Freshwater limpet.
Worms
Leach,
Tubifex (blood / bristle worm)
Flatworms, Round worms
