Atlas species information

Habitat

• Creviced rocks and boulder beaches on the cold and rough Fiordland coast, often in the splash zone.
• Diurnal, avid sun-backer.
• May bask communally, sometimes in tangled piles of up to 30 or more individuals.

Description

• Black or dark brown with a multitude of tiny green or yellow-green flecks, and sometimes also light blue flecks.
• Markings on small juveniles often brown.
• Markings may converge on edge of back to form a flecked stripe, and are sparse on the upper portion of the sides, giving the impression of a broad dark stripe.
• Undersurface mottled grey-green and black.
• Measures up to 88 mm from snout tip to vent.
• Snout pointed, tail very long.

Distribution

• Fiordland coastline, most populations on islands.
• Abundant to extremely abundant in predator-free locations; sparse (often dying out entirely) in presence of mammalian predators.

Notes

• Notes about NZ threat classification (Hitchmough, et al 2007): One mainland population, other populations on islands.
• Translocated population on Hawea Island.
• The scientific name means "pointed nose".
• Notes about 2008-10 cycle of NZ threat classification for Reptiles (Hitchmough et al 2010): Island populations secure and some recovering after predator removal; small number of mainland populations on deep boulder beaches.
• Notes about 2012-14 cycle of NZ threat classification for Reptiles: (Hitchmough, et al.
• 2012): Recovery detected on Resolution (Hannah Edmonds pers.
• comm.
• ) but not Secretary Island, otherwise no new data.