Help identifying an animal, a plant, or a fossilTe āwhina hei tautohu i tētahi mea
Identify an animal, a plant, or a fossil you’ve found in New Zealand – being careful not to handle protected species. Here you’ll find links to useful identification resources and details on how to ask our science experts for help.
On this page:
Send Te Papa a specimen
Spiders, insects, and other bugs
Birds
Fish
Molluscs
Crustaceans
Plants
Fossils
Send Te Papa a specimen
Most of New Zealand’s animals (even dead ones) are protected under the Wildlife Act 1953 and must not be held without a permit. Additionally, some fossils and plants found on protected sites, such as Department of Conservation reserves, must not be removed.
Summary of Wildlife Act 1953 – Department of Conservation
Please don’t send a specimen to Te Papa before discussing it with us first. If you have a specimen to donate to us in a manner compliant with the Act, please contact us with the details outlined in the relevant section below.
Spiders, insects, and other bugs
Protected bugs
Some bugs, such katipō spiders and some wētā, are protected under the Wildlife Act 1953 and must not be held without a permit. If in doubt, take a photograph and write a description, leaving the bug undisturbed.
To identify a bug, first try these useful resources:
Your local library
Still stuck? Contact us
Please send us:
a detailed description of the bug, including its size
one or more photographs of the bug, if possible
the location and date you found the bug
your name and contact details
Contact Te Papa with information about a bug
Birds
Protected birds
Almost all of New Zealand’s native birds (even dead ones) are protected under the Wildlife Act 1953 and must not be held without a permit. If in doubt, take a photograph and write a description, leaving the bird undisturbed.
Is the bird banded?
Read our banded bird pages to report banded birds to the Department of Conservation. It may provide you with the history of the banded bird and will appreciate the information you supply.
Identification
To identify a bird, first try these useful resources:
Still stuck?
If the bird isn’t banded, please send us:
a detailed description of the bird, including its size
one or more photographs of the bird, if possible
the location and date you found the bird
(if the bird is dead) the possible cause of death
(if you were fishing offshore) the type of fishing vessel you were in
Note: when you are fishing, you must obey the Fisheries Act 1996 and other Ministry for Primary Industries regulations regarding seabirds
Ministry for Primary Industries fishing rules
your name and contact details
(if you didn’t collect the bird) the name and contact details of the collector.
To ensure the best use of a dead bird you’ve found, contact Te Papa or the Department of Conservation as soon as possible. Please don’t send us the bird unless we request it. To temporarily preserve a dead bird, place it in a plastic bag and freeze it.
Contact Te Papa with information about a bird
Fish
Protected fish
Some fish species are protected under the Wildlife Act 1953 and must not be caught without a permit. Harvesting unprotected marine species may still be restricted or prohibited under the Fisheries Act 1996.
Wildlife Act 1953
The Ministry for Primary Industries has helpful information about fishing regulations and local fishing rules.
Ministry for Primary Industries fishing rules
Identification
To identify a fish, first try these useful resources:
Your local library
Still stuck? Contact us
Please send us:
a detailed description of the fish, including measurements
one or more photographs of the fish, if possible
information about where you caught or found the fish:
location
depth
date
method of capture
your name and contact details
(if you didn’t collect the fish) the name and contact details of the collector
Contact us as soon as possible to ensure the best use of any dead fish found or caught. To temporarily preserve a dead fish, place it in a plastic bag and freeze it – take care not to bend the fins or tail. Please don’t send us the specimen unless we ask you to.
Contact Te Papa with information about a fish
Molluscs
Protected molluscs
Some molluscs, such as giant land snails, are protected under the Wildlife Act 1953 and must not be held without a permit. If in doubt, take a photograph and write a description, leaving the mollusc undisturbed.
Identification
To identify a mollusc, first try these useful resources:
Your local library
Still stuck? Contact us
Please send us:
a detailed description of the mollusc, including measurements
one or more photographs of the mollusc, if possible
the location and date you found the mollusc
your name and contact details
(if you didn’t collect the mollusc) the name and contact details of the collector
To temporarily preserve a dead mollusc (not protected by the Wildlife Act), freeze it in a plastic bag with some water. Please don’t send us the specimen unless we ask you to.
Contact Te Papa with information about a mollusc
Crustaceans
Catch limits
Some crustaceans must not be taken unless they are a minimum size. There may also be limits on the number you can take.
See the Ministry for Primary Industries fishing rules for more information
Identification
To identify a crustacean, first try these useful resources:
Your local library
Still stuck? Contact us
Please send us:
a detailed description of the crustacean, including measurements
one or more photographs of the crustacean, if possible
the location and date you found the crustacean
your name and contact details
(if you didn’t collect the crustacean) the name and contact details of the collector
To temporarily preserve a dead crustacean, place it in methylated spirits or other alcohol. Please don’t send us the specimen unless we ask you to.
Contact Te Papa with information about a crustacean
Plants
Protected plants
Never pick a plant without permission from the landowner. You need a permit to pick plants from protected sites, such as Department of Conservation reserves. Some plants are protected and must not be held without a permit. If in doubt, take a photograph and write a description, leaving the plant undisturbed.
Identification
To identify a plant, first try these useful resources:
Your local library
Still stuck? Contact us
Please send us:
a detailed description of the plant, including measurements
one or more photographs of the plant, if possible
the location and date you found the plant
information about the habitat and other relevant details
your name and contact details
(if you didn’t collect the plant) the name and contact details of the collector
Please don’t send us the specimen unless we ask you to. To temporarily preserve an uprooted plant, seal it in a bag with a damp piece of paper towel and place it in your fridge.
Contact Te Papa with information about a plant
Fossils
Protected land
Never take a fossil without permission from the landowner. Some fossil sites are on protected land where collecting is prohibited, such as Department of Conservation reserves. If in doubt, take a photograph and description, leaving the fossil undisturbed.
See GNS Science’s advice for fossil hunters for more information.
Identification
To identify a fossil, first try these useful resources:
Your local library
Still stuck? Contact us
Please send us:
a detailed description of the fossil, including measurements
one or more photographs of the fossil, if possible
the location and date you found the fossil
your name and contact details
(if you didn’t collect the fossil) the name and contact details of the collector
Please don’t send us the specimen unless we ask you to.