Authenticated (21/10/02) by Dave Crouchley, New Zealand Department of Conservation.
Glossary
Endemic: a species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
Invertebrates: animals with no backbone.
Monogamous: having only one mate during a breeding season, or throughout the breeding life of a pair.
Rhizomes: rhizomes are thickened, branching, creeping storage stems. Although most rhizomes grow laterally just along or slightly below the soil's surface, some grow several inches deep. Roots grow from the underside of the rhizome, and during the growing season new growth sprouts from buds along the top. A familiar rhizome is the ginger used in cooking.