Fossils found in New Zealand
The Paleobiology Database records 2,152 fossil occurrences of 405 genera in New Zealand. Every fossil site is shown on the map; colours show the main group found there. Countries are as recorded by the Paleobiology Database for each fossil collection.
Dots are fossil collections in the Paleobiology Database on today’s map, merged where closer than about 5 km. See them on the ancient Earth →
What fossils have been found in New Zealand?
The genera with the most fossil records in New Zealand include Pelecanoides, Mystacina, Hemiphaga, Anas, Coturnix, Mesoplodon.
Prehistoric birds (153 genera)
Pelecanoides, Hemiphaga, Anas, Coturnix, Phalacrocorax, Tadorna, Puffinus, Fulica, Pachyptila, Dinornis, Ardenna, Aegotheles, Eudyptes, Aptornis, Larus, Corvus, Cygnus, Eudyptula, Kairuku, Nelepsittacus, Haematopus, Gallinula, Porphyrio, Palaeeudyptes, Manuherikia, Turdus, Mergus, Hakawai, Pelecanus, Charadrius, Thalassarche, Diomedea, Muriwaimanu, Platydyptes, Aythya, Sterna, Stercorarius, Columba, Podiceps, Microcarbo, Procellaria, Spatula, Kumimanu, Archaeospheniscus, Crossvallia, Palaelodus, Matuku, Limosa, Himantopus, Pelagornis, Proapteryx, Miotadorna, Matanas, Kupoupou, Petradyptes, Gallus, Ardea, Emberiza, Athene, Morus, Phasianus, Pygoscelis, Oxyura, Waimanu, Australornis, Duntroonornis, Dunstanetta, Kaiika, Korora, Protodontopteryx, Pikaihao, Clymenoptilon, Rupephaps, Sequiwaimanu, Aldiomedes · 78 more genera recorded.
Ichthyosaurs (1 genera)
Plesiosaurs & kin (5 genera)
Tuarangisaurus, Kaiwhekea, Alexandronectes, Plesiosaurus · 1 more genera recorded.
Mosasaurs (5 genera)
Mosasaurus, Prognathodon · 3 more genera recorded.
Crocodile relatives (1 genera)
Ice Age & later mammals (60 genera)
Mystacina, Mesoplodon, Mus, Tokarahia, Mauicetus, Waharoa, Orcinus, Kentriodon, Prosqualodon, Vulcanops, Tohoraata, Matapanui, Balaenoptera, Hyperoodon, Arctocephalus, Kogia, Zygorhiza, Mammalodon, Waipatia, Otekaikea, Papahu, Lepus, Ovis, Erinaceus, Eubalaena, Berardius, Dorudon, Neophoca, Scaldicetus, Llanocetus, Horopeta, Yamatocetus, Nihohae, Whakakai, Aureia, Awamokoa, Toipahautea · 23 more genera recorded.
Ancient fish & sharks (47 genera)
Otodus, Ikamauius, Carcharodon, Anotodus · 43 more genera recorded.
Ammonites & nautiloids (72 genera)
Baculites, Orthoceras · 70 more genera recorded.
Trilobites & sea scorpions (15 genera)
Calymene · 14 more genera recorded.
Ediacaran & Cambrian life (46 genera)
46 more genera recorded.
Fossil occurrences: Paleobiology Database (CC0 as reported by the API; CC BY 4.0 policy), downloaded 23 October 2026. Genus pages quote Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).