New Zealand KiwiThe New Zealand Kiwi belongs to the genus Apteryx and family Apterygidae. The Kiwi is the national emblem or symbol of New Zealand and is a nocturnal, flightless bird, approximately the size of a large chicken, that was rescued from near extinction. Laying an egg that is almost 20% of its body weight, the larger female Kiwi produces the largest egg of all of the bird species. Unbeknownst to this amazing creature, the New Zealand marketing community looking to export the Chinese Gooseberry in the '80s the decided to affix the country's "brand" of by calling them Kiwifruit. The largest species the Great Spotted Kiwi or Roroa, is about 18 in (45 cm) high and weighs about 7.3 lb (3.3 kg). The Males are generally a little smaller. It has grey-brown feathers. The female lays one egg (one of the species usually lays 2), which both incubate. They are distributed through the more mountainous parts of the west ofthe country. Although thought for many years to have evolved from the extinct New Zealand Moa, studies indicate the kiwi's closest relatives are the Emu and the cassowaries found in neighboring Australia.
While they may look cute, kiwi can be fierce and highly territorial. Return to New Zealand Animals
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