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New Zealand once had seven native frog species but three became extinct after human habitation. The four remaining are Hochstetter’s frogs, Archey’s frogs, Maud Island frogs and Hamilton’s frogs. These four species are amongst the most primitive living anurans (frogs and toads) on earth – they have been around for 70 million years!
Hochstetter’s and Archey’s frogs are found in the North Island, while Maud Island and Hamilton’s frogs are only found on islands in the Marlborough Sounds. Hochstetter’s frogs are the most widespread of the four species – they occur in isolated populations throughout the northern half of the North Island.
Three introduced Australian species are also found around New Zealand: Green and Golden Bell, Southern Bell and Brown Tree frogs. The bell frog is commonly kept as pets.
All frogs are threatened with extinction. The main reason for this is due to habitat loss such as destruction, fragmentation, degradation (e.g. pollution, pig damage, mining); introduced predators, primarily rats and mustelids e.g. stoats; disease – chytridomycosis, a fungal disease of frogs; and climate change
Lessons learned from overseas frog conservation are of value in protecting native New Zealand frogs. Do not move frogs from where you find them. Do not release pet frogs anywhere in New Zealand unless you know its origin and can return it there. The chytrid fungus is affecting native frogs – do not allow it to spread further!
We house two types of frogs at Hamilton Zoo.
Bats are the only mammals that fly.
