New Zealand Herpetofauna

Lizards, Frogs and Tuatara.
Both Native and Introduced.

Duvaucel's gecko (<i>Hoplodactylus duvaucelii</i>).

New Zealand's largest extant lizard, with an adult recorded at 160mm snout-vent length (add about the same again for the tail) and weighing 118g. It is also exceptionally long-lived, with a wild individual recaptured 38 years after its first capture. They take up to 7 years to reach sexual maturity, at which point they can produce two offspring every 2-3 years.

Sub-fossil remains and specimens collected by early European settlers prove this species was once on mainland New Zealand. Unfortunately it is now restricted to offshore islands, as its large size makes it an easy target for mammalian predators. Duvaucel's geckos coexists in some places with the Pacific rat or Kiore (<i>Rattus exulans</i>) by living in cliffs which are difficult for the rats to access. However, on islands with Kiore the Duvaucel's population always remains low.

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Duvaucel's gecko (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii). New Zealand's largest extant lizard, with an adult recorded at 160mm snout-vent length (add about the same again for the tail) and weighing 118g. It is also exceptionally long-lived, with a wild individual recaptured 38 years after its first capture. They take up to 7 years to reach sexual maturity, at which point they can produce two offspring every 2-3 years. Sub-fossil remains and specimens collected by early European settlers prove this species was once on mainland New Zealand. Unfortunately it is now restricted to offshore islands, as its large size makes it an easy target for mammalian predators. Duvaucel's geckos coexists in some places with the Pacific rat or Kiore (Rattus exulans) by living in cliffs which are difficult for the rats to access. However, on islands with Kiore the Duvaucel's population always remains low.

gecko gekkonidae lizard reptile Hoplodactylus duvaucelli duvaucelii duvaucel's duvaucels