Invasive species of New Zealand origin
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Some species endemic to New Zealand are causing problems in other countries, similar to the way introduced species in New Zealand cause problems for agriculture and indigenous biodiversity.
- The New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) is an invasive species in many countries and has been present in Europe since 1859.[1]
- The New Zealand flatworm (Arthurdendyus triangulatus) is an invasive species in Europe where it preys on earthworms and degrades soil quality.
- Weka (Gallirallus australis) were introduced to several islands south of New Zealand,[2] including Macquarie Island in the 1870s,[3] where the weka was utilized as a food source.[3][2][4] However, despite their survivability against other predators to islands it is not native to,[3] the weka became a pest by outcompeting prey against native birds,[3] and is claimed to have contributed to the extinction of the Macquarie parakeet and a native species of land rail.[3][4] The weka population in Macquarie Island declined in the 1980s and was fully eradicated in 1988.[4]