With large areas of the city protected in reserves, Wellington is known for being rich in biodiversity. But beyond the highly-visible kākā, tuī and pōhutukawa, how well do you know the plants and animals with which we share the city? Wellington recently competed in the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge, an annual competition to see which city can record the most species during a four day period. Science Researcher Lara Shepherd thinks what we found lurking in our backyard might surprise you…

This is the second year Wellington has entered the City Nature Challenge. Given that we recorded 1537 species last year, would there be anything new and exciting left to find this year?

Amazing life forms – from colourful fungi to flamboyant sea slugs

Despite its name, the Wellington nudibranch (Doris wellingtonensis) is found throughout the country. This flamboyant individual was seen in Wellington Harbour. Photo by Jean Roger, via iNaturalist, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

The spikey sea slug is the nudibranch Phidiana milleri. It was recorded in Wellington Harbour by Jean Roger, via iNaturalist CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

What are you looking at? This cartoonish earthstar fungus (Geastrum sp.) was seen in Brooklyn by Deborah Mcdonald, via iNaturalist, CC BY-NC 4.0

This vibrant lilac coral fungus (Ramariopsis pulchella) was seen on Wright’s Hill and selected as iNaturalist’s observation of the day. Photo by naturewatchwidow, via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

This jumping spider (Trite mustilina) was photographed in Tawa by Amaya M, via iNaturalist, CC BY-NC 4.0

Sypharochiton sinclairi is a colourful chiton (type of marine mollusc) only found in New Zealand. Photo by Dougal Townsend, via iNaturalist, CC BY-NC 4.0

This ichneumon wasp was recorded during the Bush City Bioblitz held at Te Papa. These wasps are parasites on other insects and spiders. Photo by Julia Kasper, via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

Rhyssoplax aerea is a chiton (type of marine mollusc) only found in New Zealand. This specimen in a beautiful golden colour. Photo by Luca Davenport-Thomas, via iNaturalist, CC BY-NC 4.0

The sea slug Goniobranchus aureomarginatus was seen on the Island Bay snorkel trail. It is only found in New Zealand. Photo by Luca Davenport-Thomas, via iNaturalist, CC BY-NC 4.0

There is amazing detail on this Syrphetodes marginatus beetle  – zoom in to see individual scales. Photo by Dougal Townsend,  via iNaturalist, CC BY-NC 4.0

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New records on iNaturalist for Wellington

A number of species were recorded on iNaturalist for the first time in Wellington City during the Challenge. Unsurprisingly most are small animals, fungi or plants that are easily overlooked.  Here are some of our new records:

This lanternfish larvae was seen on the Island Bay snorkel trail and is only the second convincing photo on iNaturalist of this entire family from within New Zealand. Photo by Luca Davenport-Thomas, via iNaturalist, CC BY-NC 4.0

Puccinia crepidicola is a rust fungus that only infects Crepis daisies. This observation is only the third for New Zealand on iNaturalist. Photo by carolwest, via iNaturalist, CC BY-NC 4.0

Lophurella caespitosa is a red alga found only in New Zealand. This is the first record for Wellington and only the fifth in the entire country. Photo by Leon Perrie, via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

A plant thought to be Dyckia distachya was recorded growing wild in the Botanic Gardens. If the identification is correct it would be the first wild record for this species in New Zealand and only the third record worldwide on iNaturalist. This bromeliad species is endangered in its native Brazil and Paraguay. Photo by naturewatchwidow, via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

The bird dropping spider (Celaenia olivacea) is a named for its resemblance to bird droppings and is thought to have evolved as a camouflage against predators. The objects on the left are silk egg sacs, which the spider guards until they hatch. Photo by naturewatchwidow, via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

This cute little weevil (Eugnomus durvillei) was recorded by Christopher Stephens, who saw it not once but three times in Te Kopahou Reserve. His observations during the City Nature Challenge double the number of iNaturalist records of this species! Photo by Christopher Stephens, via iNaturalist, CC BY-SA 4.0

The moss Pseudotaxiphyllum falcifolium was recorded from Wright’s Hill. It is found throughout the country but this is the first record in the North Island from south of Palmerston North. Photo by Leon Perrie, via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

This red alga (Ptilonia sp.) at Princess Bay is only the third record of this genus in New Zealand. Photo by Leon Perrie, via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

Hypericum rust (Melampsora hypericorum) is a plant pathogen that attacks plants in the Hypericum genus, such as this tutsan. Photo by naturewatchwidow, via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

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Interesting finds

A tīeke | North Island Saddleback head and pile of feathers was found under a tree on Wright’s Hill. It may have been killed by a kārearea |New Zealand falcon. Photo by naturewatchwidow, via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

The identification of this striking club fungus stumped the experts, with one noting that it’s ‘a strange one’. Many of New Zealand’s fungi are unstudied and are yet to be named. Photo by naturewatchwidow, via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

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Thank you to everyone who made observations and the experts who identified them. Christchurch had the most observers and observations of the New Zealand cities that participated this year and Wellington recorded the most species.

Further Reading

• View the worldwide results
• View more results from Wellington
• Highlights and discoveries from last year