Aotearoa New Zealand’s marine biodiversity checklist has been updated, representing an increase of 3,630 known living species since the turn of the century.
The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand represents our current knowledge of biodiversity, including sponges, corals, hydroids, worms, molluscs, crustaceans, sea stars, fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and algae. The total number of known living species in this update is 18,494, a 24 per cent increase since the last update.
Code: NBM 136
Authors: Kelly, M.; Mills, S.; Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C.; Nelson, W. (Eds)
Citation for overall memoir: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp.
Keywords for the memoir:
Acanthocephala, Animalia, Annelida, Appendicularia, Ascidiacea, Aves, bony fishes, Brachiopoda, Bryozoa, cartilaginous fishes, Chlorophyta, Choanoflagellatea, Chordata, Chromista, Cnidaria, Crustacea, Ctenophora, Dicyemida, Echinodermata, Foraminifera, hagfishes, Ichthyosporea, lancelets, Gastrotricha, Gnathostomulida, Insecta, Kinorhyncha, Loricifera, macroalgae, Mammalia, Mollusca, Nematoda, Nemertea, Ochrophyta, Opisthokonta-Holozoa, otoliths, Phaeophyceae, Phoronida, Plantae, Platyhelminthes, Porifera, Prasinodermatophyta, Priapulida, Pycnogonida, Reptilia, Rhodophyta, Rotifera, Tardigrada, Thaliacea, Tunicata, Xenacoelomorpha, marine biodiversity, marine biota, extant, extinct, fossils, operational taxonomic units, unicellular lineages, taxonomically indeterminate taxa, inventory, metadata, Aotearoa New Zealand, New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone, Extended Continental Shelf
Availability: A printed hard copy will be available for purchase early in 2024. A downloadable copy is freely available through the links on this web page.
The publication was edited by: Michelle Kelly, Sadie Mills, Marianna Terezow, Carina Sim-Smith & Wendy Nelson. It is made possible by 67 experts at NIWA, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, the University of Otago Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, GNS Science Te Pū Ao, as well as overseas institutions and independent taxonomists.
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N.B.The entire publication is a large PDF file and detailed in the downloadable chapters below
The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory [PDF 133MB]
Chapter details are downloadable as .zip files. N.B. Once downloaded you can open the .zip files from your downloads folder. Each zip file contains the chapter PDF file and a chapter supplementary file in Excel spreadsheet format.
| Chapter chapter_cover_img | Phylum/Group | Memoir PDF chapter citation | NIWA Library server link |
 | Overall PDF | Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136.pdf | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136.pdf |
 | Preface | Kelly, M., Mills, S., Nelson, W. (2023) Updating our marine biodiversity inventory (Preface). Pp. 10–29 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-preface.pdf | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch00.pdf |
 | Opisthokonta-Holozoa | Leadbeater, B.S.C. (2023) Chapter 1. Opisthokonta-Holozoa, unicellular lineages classes Choanoflagellatea (choanoflagellates) & Ichthyosporea (holozoan parasites). Pp. 33–37 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch01.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch01.zip |
 | Foraminifera | Hayward, B.W. (2023) Chapter 2. Kingdom Chromista, phylum Foraminifera (foraminifera). Pp. 39–58 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch02.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch02.zip |
 | Ochrophyta, Prasinodermatophyta, Chlorophyta, and Rhodophyta | Nelson, W., Neill, K., D’Archino, R. (2023) Chapter 3. Kingdom Chromista, phylum Ochrophyta, and kingdom Plantae, phyla Prasinodermatophyta, Chlorophyta, and Rhodophyta (macroalgae). Pp. 61–80 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch03.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch03.zip |
 | Porifera | Kelly, M., Sim-Smith, C. (2023) Chapter 4. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Porifera (sponges). Pp. 83–109 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch04.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch04.zip |
 | Ctenophora | Mills, C.E., Haddock, S.H.D., Bezio, N. (2023) Chapter 5. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Ctenophora (comb jellies). Pp. 111–129 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch05.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch05.zip |
 | Cnidaria | Macpherson, D., Tracey, D., Bilewitch, J., Opresko, D., Bo, M., Kitahara, M.V., Cairns, S., Sinniger, F., Kessel, G., Alderslade, P., Rodríguez, E., Neill, K., Miranda, L.S., Schuchert, P., Gordon, D.P. (2023) Chapter 6. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Cnidaria (corals, medusae, anemones, hydroids, staurozoans, & myxozoans). Pp. 131–155 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch06.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch06.zip |
 | Xenacoelomorpha | Gordon, D.P. (2023) Chapter 7. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Xenacoelomorpha (acoel & xenoturbellid worms). Pp. 157–161 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch07.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch07.zip |
 | Platyhelminthes | Presswell, B., Bennett, J. (2023) Chapter 8. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Platyhelminthes (flatworms, cestodes, trematodes, & monogeneans). Pp. 163–179 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch08.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch08.zip |
 | Dicyemida | Presswell, B. (2023) Chapter 9. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Dicyemida (dicyemids & rhombozoans). Pp. 181–184 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch09.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch09.zip |
 | Gastrotricha | Todaro, M.A. (2023) Chapter 10. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Gastrotricha (hairy-bellied worms). Pp. 187–191 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch10.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch10.zip |
 | Acanthocephala | Presswell, B., Bennett, J. (2023) Chapter 11. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Acanthocephala (thorny-headed worms). Pp. 193–200 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch11.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch11.zip |
 | Rotifera | Duggan, I.C., Shiel, R.J. (2023) Chapter 12. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Rotifera (wheel animals). Pp. 203–206 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch12.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch12.zip |
 | Gnathostomulida | Sterrer, W. (2023) Chapter 13. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Gnathostomulida (lesser jaw worms). Pp. 209–212 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch13.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch13.zip |
 | Mollusca | Walton, K., Marshall, B.A., Spencer, H.G. (2023) Chapter 14. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Mollusca (clams, slugs, snails, cephalopods, & kin). Pp. 215–237 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch14.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch14.zip |
 | Brachiopoda | Robinson, J., MacFarlan, D., Waterhouse, B. (2023) Chapter 15. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Brachiopoda (lamp shells). Pp. 239–255 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch15.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch15.zip |
 | Phoronida | Gordon, D.P. (2023) Chapter 16. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Phoronida (horseshoe worms). Pp. 257–261 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch16.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch16.zip |
 | Bryozoa | Gordon, D.P. (2023) Chapter 17. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Bryozoa (bryozoans). Pp. 263– 281 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch17.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch17.zip |
 | Annelida | Read, G.B. (2023) Chapter 18. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Annelida (bristleworms & kin). Pp. 283–297 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch18.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch18.zip |
 | Nemertea | Schnabel, K.E., Norenburg, J., Kelly, M. (2023) Chapter 19. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Nemertea (ribbon worms). Pp. 299–303 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch19.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch19.zip |
 | Echinodermata | Anderson, O., Davey, N., Mills, S., Neill, K., O’Hara, T. (2023) Chapter 20. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Echinodermata (sea stars, brittle stars, basket stars, snake stars, sea lilies, feather stars, sea urchins, & sea cucumbers). Pp. 305–319 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch20.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch20.zip |
 | Chordata Tunicata | Page, M., Macpherson, D., Décima, M. (2023) Chapter 21. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, subphylum Tunicata, class Ascidiacea (ascidians & sea squirts), class Appendicularia (appendicularians), class Thaliacea (salps). Pp. 321–329 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch21.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch21.zip |
 | Chordata Fishes | Struthers, C.D., Stewart, A.L., Roberts, C.D., Schwarzhans, W., Barker, J.J., Kortet, S. (2023) Chapter 22. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata (lancelets, hagfishes, cartilaginous & bony fishes, & fossil fishes identified from otoliths). Pp. 331–371 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch22.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch22.zip |
 | Chordata Reptiles | Hitchmough, R., van Winkel, D. (2023) Chapter 23. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Reptilia (marine reptiles). Pp. 373–378 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch23.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch23.zip |
 | Chordata Birds | Tennyson, A.J.D. (2023) Chapter 24. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Aves (seabirds). Pp. 381–388 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch24.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch24.zip |
 | Chordata Mammals | Marx, F.G., Richards, M.D., Fordyce, R.E. (2023) Chapter 25. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Mammalia (marine mammals). Pp. 391–397 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch25.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch25.zip |
 | Tardigrada | Pérez-Pech, W.A., Hansen, J.G. (2023) Chapter 26. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Tardigrada (marine tardigrades). Pp. 399–402 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch26.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch26.zip |
 | Arthropoda Pycnogonida | Staples, D., Neill, K. (2023) Chapter 27. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Arthropoda, class Pycnogonida (sea spiders). Pp. 405–409 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch27.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch27.zip |
 | Arthropoda Crustacea | Schnabel, K.A., Peart, R.A., Bradford-Grieve, J., Eagar, S., Hosie, A., Buckeridge, J. (2023) Chapter 28. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Arthropoda, subphylum Crustacea (shrimps, crabs, lobsters, barnacles, & kin). Pp. 411–445 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch28.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch28.zip |
 | Arthropoda Insecta | Smith, B.J. (2023) Chapter 29. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta (marine insects). Pp. 447–453 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch29.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch29.zip |
 | Kinorhyncha | Grzelak, K., Sørensen, M.V. (2023) Chapter 30. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Kinorhyncha (mud dragons). Pp. 455–462 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch30.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch30.zip |
 | Loricifera | Sørensen, M.V., Grzelak, K. (2023) Chapter 31. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Loricifera (corset animals). Pp. 465–469 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch31.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch31.zip |
 | Priapulida | Schmidt-Rhaesa, A. (2023) Chapter 32. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Priapulida (priapulid worms). Pp. 471–475 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch32.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch32.zip |
 | Nematoda | Leduc, D., Presswell, B. (2023) Chapter 33. Kingdom Animalia, phylum Nematoda (roundworms). Pp. 477–491 in: Kelly, M., Mills, S., Terezow, M., Sim-Smith, C., Nelson, W. (Eds) The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand. Updating our marine biodiversity inventory. NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136, 494 pp. https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch33.zip | https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/NIWAbm136-ch33.zip |
