Dozens of species of gecko are found in New Zealand. The exact number is unknown; as of 2021, there are 48 described species across 7 genera, with more being studied. All are native to New Zealand and are endemic (i.e., found nowhere else). All are placed in the Diplodactylidae family, which is found across Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand.
New Zealand's geckos are highly unusual in that they are viviparous, giving birth to live young, typically twins; most other geckos are oviparous (egg-layers). Two species of the New Caledonian rough-snouted giant geckos are the only other viviparous geckos in the world.
Like most gecko species, New Zealand’s geckos are omnivorous, consuming a diet that is primarily insectivorous in nature, hunting numerous flies, arachnids, lepidoptorans and gryllids (crickets). However, depending on several factors (such as the time of year, seasonal insect availability, bloom cycles of flowering plants, etc.), many geckos will supplement—or even briefly alter—their diets by consuming blossoms, fruits (e.g., from mahoe) or nectar (e.g., from flax flowers) as it becomes available.Brian Gill and Tony Whitaker (1996). New Zealand frogs and reptiles. David Bateman Ltd.
Geckos are often a target for wildlife smugglers for sale via the reptile and pet trade.
Species As of 2024 the taxonomically described species are as follows: Dactylocnemis pacificus (Gray, 1842) – Pacific gecko or Pacific sticky-toed gecko Hoplodactylus duvaucelii (Dumeril & Bibron, 1836) – Duvaucel's gecko. This may represent multiple species or subspecies, including the northern and the southern Duvaucel’s gecko. Mokopirirakau cryptozoicus (Jewell & Leschen, 2004) – Tākitimu gecko Mokopirirakau galaxias Knox et al., 2021 – hura te ao gecko Mokopirirakau granulatus (Gray, 1845) – forest gecko Mokopirirakau kahutarae (Whitaker, 1985) – black-eyed gecko Mokopirirakau nebulosus (McCann, 1955) – cloudy gecko Naultinus elegans Gray, 1842 – Auckland green gecko Naultinus flavirictus Hitchmough et al., 2021 – Aupouri green gecko Naultinus gemmeus (McCann, 1955) – jewelled gecko Naultinus grayii Bell, 1843 – Northland green gecko or Gray's tree gecko Naultinus manukanus (McCann, 1955) – Marlborough green gecko or manuka gecko Naultinus punctatus Gray, 1843 – Wellington green gecko Naultinus rudis (Fischer, 1882) – rough gecko Naultinus stellatus Hutton, 1872 – Nelson green gecko or starry tree gecko Naultinus tuberculatus (McCann, 1955) – West Coast green gecko, Lewis Pass green gecko, or warty tree gecko Toropuku inexpectatus Hitchmough et al., 2020 – northern striped gecko Toropuku stephensi (Robb, 1980) – Stephen's Island gecko or Cook Strait striped gecko Tukutuku rakiurae (Thomas, 1981) – harlequin gecko Woodworthia brunnea (Cope, 1869) – Canterbury gecko Woodworthia chrysosiretica (Robb, 1980) – gold-striped gecko, gold-stripe gecko, or golden sticky-toed gecko Woodworthia korowai – korowai gecko, Muriwai gecko Woodworthia maculata (Gray, 1845) – New Zealand common gecko or Raukawa gecko
Gigarcanum delcourti (formerly Hoplodactylus delcourti), the largest known species of gecko, only known from a single specimen collected in the 19th century, was formerly thought to have been from New Zealand, but DNA evidence suggests that it actually originated from New Caledonia.
Species yet to be taxonomically determined The number of New Zealand gecko species is not settled, with new ones being described. Some animals with a wide range previously thought to comprise a single species actually represent multiple sub-species, as with the common gecko, Woodworthia maculata.Bauer A. M., Russell A. P. "Hoplodactylus delcourti n. sp. (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), the largest known gecko" , New Zealand Journal of Zoology (1986), Vol. 13: 141–148. A number of alpine species have emerged from high altitude discoveries in the South Island.
As at 2021 the species or subspecies that have yet to be taxonomically determined include:
Dactylocnemis "Matapia Island" – Matapia gecko Dactylocnemis "Mokohinau" – Mokohinau gecko Dactylocnemis "North Cape" – Te Paki gecko Dactylocnemis "Poor Knights" – Poor Knights gecko Dactylocnemis "Three Kings" – Three Kings gecko Hoplodactylus duvaucelii "southern" – a possible new species or subspecies currently included in Hoplodactylus duvaucelii Mokopirirakau "Cascades" – cascade gecko Mokopirirakau "cupola" – Cupola gecko Mokopirirakau "Okarito" – broad-cheeked gecko Mokopirirakau "Open Bay Islands" – Open Bay Islands gecko Mokopirirakau "Roys Peak" – orange-spotted gecko Mokopirirakau "southern forest" – Tautuku gecko Mokopirirakau "southern North Island" – ngahere gecko Woodworthia cf. brunnea Cope, 1869 – Waitaha gecko Woodworthia "Central Otago" – schist gecko Woodworthia "Cromwell" – Kawarau gecko Woodworthia "Kaikoura" – Kaikoura gecko Woodworthia "Marlborough mini" – minimac gecko Woodworthia "Mount Arthur" – Kahurangi gecko Woodworthia "Otago/Southland large" – korero gecko Woodworthia "pygmy" – pygmy gecko Woodworthia "Raggedy" – Raggedy Range gecko Woodworthia "Southern Alps" – Southern Alps gecko Woodworthia "Southern Alps northern" – northern Southern Alps gecko Woodworthia "southern mini" – short-toed gecko Woodworthia "south-western" – south-western large gecko
See also Wildlife smuggling in New Zealand Fauna of New Zealand
References
Further reading New Zealand Geckos; A guide to captive maintenance and breeding, RPV Rowlands, Ecoprint, 1999
External links New Zealand Herpetological Society