On 1 July 2025, NIWA merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand.

Tooth patterns of longfin and shortfin eels

Every different type of freshwater eel from around the world has a unique pattern to the way their teeth are arranged on the upper jaw. Here are the tooth patterns of the New Zealand longfin (left; long, pointed line between jaw teeth) and shortfin (right; form a short club-shaped mass between jaw teeth) eels. Credit: Jacques Boubée