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Since New Zealand became isolated from Gondwanaland approximately 80 -
90 million years ago, it has many archaic plants and animals, all of which
have evolved in the absence of mammals. Without competition from mammals,
many of New Zealand's birds became poor fliers or flightless. Also, many
birds and invertebrates took on the roles normally occupied by mammals,
therefore the arrival of introduced animals has had a great influence on
the New Zealand biota.
