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Glossary

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Auckland Islands
The Auckland Islands are an archipelago (collection of islands) of New Zealand, lying 465 kilometres south of the South Island.

carnivore
An animal that mostly eats meat, or the flesh of animals. Sometimes carnivores are called predators.

endemic
If an animal or plant is endemic, it is found only in that place or country.

harem
A group of two or more females with a male in attendance.

holistic
When the parts of something are interconnected.

juvenile sea lion
A sea lion that has not yet reached its adult form, sexual maturity or size.

mainland
Large landmass or land covering a continent, as opposed to islands off its coast.

mammal
Mammals include humans and all other animals that are warm-blooded vertebrates (vertebrates have backbones) with hair. They feed their young with milk and have a more well-developed brain than other types of animals.

mane
Long and heavy hair growing about the neck and head of some mammals.

marine ecosystem
a special community of living organisms that exists in the ocean or other saltwater environments. Just like the ecosystems on land, marine ecosystems include plants, animals, and microorganisms that interact with each other and their surroundings.

nationally critical
The most severely threatened, facing an immediate high risk of extinction (see Conservation status of plants and animals for more information on the New Zealand Threat Classification System).

pack ice
A mass of floating ice that is found in polar oceans, mainly in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. This ice consists of a mixture of icebergs, ice floes and sea ice that have frozen together.

pelt
The furry skin or fur of an animal, especially when it has been removed from the animal's body.

pinniped
A type of marine mammal that has a streamlined body and fins for limbs.

SLEDs (sea lion exclusion devices)
A special underwater fence that helps fishermen catch fish without sea lions accidentally getting caught in the nets.

Subantarctic
Places that are close to but not right in Antarctica. It's like being in a cooler zone near Antarctica, where you might find unique plants, animals and chilly weather.

trawl fishing (trawling)
A method of fishing that involves pulling a fishing net, that is heavily weighted to keep it on the seafloor, through the water behind one or more boats.