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Story: Extinctions

Grayling

Grayling

This fibreglass reproduction of the extinct New Zealand grayling (Prototroctes oxyrhynchus) – known by Māori as upokororo – is on display in Otago Museum. Although grayling were common in New Zealand rivers in the 19th century, they were rare from the beginning of the 20th century and the last confirmed sightings were in 1923.

The reason for their extinction has never been clear, but it is suggested that they could not compete against trout, which were introduced to New Zealand streams and rivers in the late 19th century.

Using this item

Private collection

by Carl Walrond

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How to cite this page

Richard Holdaway, Extinctions – Smaller birds, reptiles, frogs, fish, plants, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13676/grayling (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Richard Holdaway, published 2 March 2009.

Comments

Mark Hoffman
16 November 2021
Hi, you may interested in recent news in Australia about their grayling species very closely related to the NZ species - is apparently making a come-back in streams where it has been absent for 100 years. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-24/grayling-fish-re-emerges-glenelg-river-century-after-vanishing/13182958?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web. Also there are many Australian rivers where trout and grayling have co-existed since trout were introduced, which casts doubt on the trout competition. This is also supported by the fact grayling were disappearing from the Waikato River some ten years before trout were introduced.