Biogeography of Stewart Island and the Southern South Island: Mesozoic–Paleogene Geology

Having dealt with the northern and southern offshore islands in the last two chapters, we are now in a position to consider distribution in mainland New Zealand. This region includes many endemics, such as the acanthisittid wrens, that have global sisters. Other high-level groups that are endemic to the mainland and widespread there include the beetle family Cyclaxyridae (North, South, and Stewart Islands). Its sister group is either Tasmosalpingidae in Tasmania and Victoria, or Lamingtoniidae at the McPhersonMacleay Overlap (New South Wales-Queensland border) (Gimmel et al., 2010).