New Zealand

New Zealand has a highly distinctive flora and fauna, especially at higher taxonomic levels (it ranks in the top three in number of endemic animal families). New Zealand forms its own biodiversity hotspot on land (Biodiversity Hotspots) and also has a remarkable level of endemism in marine life (Treasures of the Sea) . An overview of New Zealand's biodiversity can be found at (Biodiversity Information Online).

Representatives of families of birds unique to New Zealand include the Great Spotted Kiwi (Save the Kiwi), the Kokako (ARKive), the South Island Wren (ARKive), the Stitchbird (ARKive), and the extinct Upland Moa (Te Papa). The Kakapo (ARKive) and the Kea (ARKive) are also often placed in an endemic family (Wikipedia). Other endemic birds include the Yellow-eyed Penguin (doc.govt.nz), the Snares Crested Penguin (NZ Penguins), the Southern Royal Albatross (ARKive), the Orange-fronted Parakeet (doc.govt.nz), the New Zealand Pigeon (Wikipedia), the Paradise Shelduck (NZ Birds), the Blue Duck (NHM-London), the Takahe (doc.govt.nz), the Wrybill (ARKive), the Chatham Islands Black Robin (doc.govt.nz), and the Tui (ARKive).

The New Zealand Lesser Short-tailed Bat (EDGE) is the sole surviving member of the family Mystacinidae. Other endemic mammals include the Long-tailed Wattled Bat (TerraNature), the New Zealand Sea Lion (ARKive), and Hector's Dolphin (ARKive). 

Archey’s Frog (EDGE) is one of four species in the endemic family Leiopelmatidae (NZ Frog).

The Brother’s Island Tuatara (ARKive) and Northern Tuatara (Zealandia) are the only members of not only an endemic reptile family the Sphenodontidae, but of an entire order, the Rhynchocephalia (or Sphenodontia). Other endemic reptiles include the Nelson Green Gecko (NZHS), the Jewelled Gecko (NZHS), the Forest Gecko (doc.govt.nz), the Harlequin Gecko (NZHS), the Otago Skink (ARKive), the Chevron Skink (doc.govt.nz), and Whitaker's Skink (ARKive).

The Torrentfish (NIWA) is sometimes considered to represent an endemic family, the Cheimarrichthyidae. Other endemic freshwater fish include Stokell’s Smelt (NIWA), the Black Flounder (NIWA), the Giant Kokupu (ARKive), the Northland Mudfish (NIWA), the Longfin Eel (NIWA), and the Tarndale Bully (NIWA). Endemic marine fish include the Draughtsboard Shark (Wikipedia), a hagfish Neomyxine biniplicata (rsnz.natlib.govt.nz), the Striped Clingfish (Ryan Photographic), the Estuary Stargazer (Web NZ Fish Guide), the Southern Lemon Sole (FishBase), the Cryptic Triplefin (FishBase), the Oblique-swimming Triplefin (Ryan Photographic), the Fiordland Brotula (Te Ara), and the Scarlet Wrasse (eol).

Insect families found nowhere else include the New Zealand Batfly (NZ Geographic), primitive moths Mnesarchaeidae (Wikispecies), scale insects Phenacoleachiidae (Scale Insects), a parasitic wasp Maamingidae (Scientific American), and several beetles: Agapythidae (Wikispecies), Cyclaxyridae (Wikispecies), and Metaxinidae (Wikispecies) . The Giant Weta (Te Papa) is the world's heaviest insect. Other endemic insects include the Giraffe Weevil (Landcare Research), the Huhu Beetle (Te Papa), the Cromwell Chafer (ARKive), the New Zealand Bush Giant Dragonfly (TrekNature), a cicada Amphipsalta zelandica (Landcare Research), the Forest Ringlet (Markku Savela), the Puriri Moth (Landcare Research), the world's skinniest caterpillar Houdinia flexilissima (Landcare Research), and the New Zealand Glowworm (Te Ara).

Other endemic invertebrate families include spiders Huttoniidae (Wikipedia), amphipod crustaceans Phreatogammaridae (Lincoln Univ.), millipedes Schedotrigonidae (Wikispecies), lace corals Cinctiporidae (NHM-London), and the bioluminescent New Zealand Freshwater Limpets (National Waterways Project). Endemic land snails include the Flax Snail (ARKive), Kauri snails (doc.govt.nz), and Powelliphanta snails (doc.govt.nz). Endemic marine molluscs include the Paua (Te Papa), the Golden Volute (NZ Mollusca), and a nudibranch Janolus eximius (Sea Slug Forum). Other endemic invertebrates include a giant springtail Holacanthella (Checklist of the Collembola), the Nelson Cave Spider (ARKive), koura (nzfreshwater.org), and five velvetworm species (Landcare Research).

The over 1800 vascular plant species restricted to New Zealand include the Kauri (ARKive), the Totara (Gymnosperm Database), the Chatham Island Christmas Tree (ARKive), the Kermadec Pohutukawa (Wikipedia), the Silver Tree Fern (Te Papa), and the national flower, the Kowhai (Wikipedia). Endemic genera include the Kaka-beak (ARKive), the Odd-leaved Orchid (NZ Native Orchids), the Campbell Island Daisy (NZPCN), the Chatham Island Forget-me-not (NZPCN), the Toropapa (NZPCN), the Damnamenia (NZPCN), the New Zealand Gloxinia (NZPCN), the Elingamita (NZPCN), the Yellow Pine (Gymnosperm Database), the Toro (NZPCN), the Pīkao (doc.govt.nz), the Dactylanthus (doc.govt.nz), and the Cypress Hebe (NZPCN). The Tawari (Univ. Auckland) is placed in its own endemic family, the Ixerbaceae.

See also Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau.