Our waterways are not just home to native fish, but to an incredible range of animals called invertebrates - animals without a backbone! Even some of the insects we think of as being inhabitants of the air and bush actually live part of their lives in the water.

Freshwater invertebrates are those animals that live in freshwater environments, such as rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, hot springs, ditches sometimes even puddles! And they include creatures such as craneflies, caddisflies and mosquitos.

We also have jellyfish, crabs, freshwater limpets, mussels and clams, as well as the hydra - a freshwater relative of the anemone. Many New Zealanders have never seen us, know about us or even know where to look for us.

So, come and have a look and see what other cool animals you can find in a stream, river, lake or puddle near you.

27cm x 21cm. Paperback, 40 pages. Author: Amber McEwan.