Identification guides

On this page you will find useful information and resources on New Zealand's marine flora and invertebrate fauna.

Fact sheets

The following links provide general information and guides on invasive sea squirts and seagrass found in New Zealand coasts and oceans.

• Invasive sea squirt (Styela clava)
• Seagrass guide (PDF 33.5 MB)
• Toxic sea slugs.

Marine identification guides

• New Zealand Shore Polychaetes - this guide provides help for the identification of many polychaetes of rock and sand shores of New Zealand.
• New Zealamd Shell Polychaetes - this guide provides information on the marine polychaete worms which live on the scallops, abalone, oysters, and mussels, and other harvested shellfish of New Zealand. It especially deals with the worms which bore into live shells with resulting harm to their hosts. 
• Coralline algae - this guide covers the common crustose coralline algae found in central New Zealand. 

E-guides

Where in New Zealand might you find a witchy finger sponge, Neptune's necklace or a pie-crust crab?

The answer will be found in New Zealand’s first series of electronic identification guides for marine algae and invertebrates. Initially launched in 2012, these guides were designed to help amateur marine biologists at the beach and in the water this summer. You can download the guides for free.