Atlas species information

Habitat

• Forest and shrublands, from the coast upwards to the tree line (very rarely in creviced rock in alpine zone up to 1500 m above sea level).
• Generally occurs on trunks and larger branches of trees, but many North Island animals live on the slender branches of manuka and kanuka.
• Largely nocturnal, and at least some North Island populations also diurnal; sun-basks near retreat or among vegetation.
• Arboreal.

Description

• Grey, brown or olive (individuals capable of large and rapid colour changes).
• Markings consist of a row of (usually) bright W-shaped patches or paired blotches along the back, which in many specimens give rise on the outer anterior (toward the head) edges to a large patch that may be white, cream, yellow or green.
• Sometimes with dull reddish spots or shadings, and/or regular mustard-yellow patches.
• Westland animals often especially gaudy in colour pattern.
• Undersurface heavily mottled or blotched.
• Eye grey, olive, brown or blue.
• Mouth lining and tongue bright orange or yellow.
• Measures about 70-85 mm (rarely 95 mm) from snout tip to vent.
• Intact tail longer than snout-vent length.

Distribution

• Northern half of North Island, and in Marlborough, Nelson and Westland (as far south as Okarito Lagoon).
• Occurs on some large or sheltered islands (eg Great Barrier, Little Barrier, Waiheke and Maud Islands).
• Generally sparse and difficult to detect, but regarded to be common in some areas.

Notes

• Moko-piri-rakau is the Maori name for forest gecko.
• The status of populations in the central North Island, which could belong to this species or the Southern North Island forest gecko, has yet to be resolved.
• The scientific name refers to the animal's granular skin.
• Notes about NZ threat classification (Hitchmough, et al 2007): Unconfirmed record Peel Forest, Canterbury (only record in eastern South Island).
• Notes about 2008-10 cycle of NZ threat classification for Reptiles (Hitchmough et al 2010): Declining on mainland but not at a rate to trigger declining category.
• Notes about 2012-14 cycle of NZ threat classification for Reptiles: (Hitchmough, et al.
• 2012): Many recent records from scrubby habitat near Auckland (some predator control).
• Few populations on predator-free islands.
• Some very large populations.
• Likely ongoing decline on the mainland (supported with anecdotal evidence).
• Radio tracking suggests that they don't commonly use retreat sites - potentially making them more vulnerable to predation.
• Locally high density (may be due to detectability) and morphologically distinctive population under threat from mining on Denniston Plateau.