New Zealand NATIVE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
New Zealand is home to relatively few groups of reptiles and amphibians. We have our
native Frogs (Leiopelma group), two species of Tuatara - Sphenodon punctatus and
Sphenodon guntheri, and two groups of lizards - the Geckos and Skinks.
There are some 20 species of Geckos and some 30 species of Skinks. These figures are
deliberately general as new species are still being discovered, and some long recognized
species are being split into separate species following DNA tests and other genetic
methods of profiling.
Please note that all New Zealand native reptiles and amphibians, and this includes all
geckos and skinks, are protected by law, and can NOT be collected from the wild without
written authorization from the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). (N.B.
there are three introduced frogs in New Zealand - all Litoria species from Australia and
one introduced egg-laying skink - the Rainbow skink (Lampropholis delicata) also from
Australia, and these can be collected from the wild without restriction)
Geckos have thin soft velvety skin and a flattened body that is covered by small granular
scales. On the head, and especially at the edges of the mouth, these scales are often
larger. As the gecko grows it periodically sheds its skin in whole or in large pieces.
Geckos have a definite head and neck, which easily differentiates them from our native
skinks, which have shiny over-lapping scales and are much more streamlined, as well as
being much quicker in their movements than geckos.
Apart from the Egg-laying Skink (Oligosoma suteri), all New Zealand geckos and skinks
give birth to live young. This method of reproduction is called ovoviviparous, and is a
little unusual as the great majority of geckos throughout the world, and more than half of
the worlds skinks all lay eggs.
Geckos usually have twins, while skinks can have between two to eight babies depending
on the species. Generally, the larger the species, the more young are born. Babies are
born in summer or early autumn (January to May) but different species give birth at
different times of the year especially under captive conditions.
Young reach maturity at approximate three years of age, but size appears to be the main
determining factor in ability to mate. Some geckos in captivity that have been well fed
since birth have been known to mate when only two years old and produce viable
progeny, although many first births are single babies rather than the usual twins.
Little is known about the age to which geckos and skinks will live to in the wild, but the
New Zealand Herpetological Society has longevity records of animals in captivity, with
an Otago skink reaching 40 years, a maculatus gecko at 37 years, a Duvaucels gecko at
32 years, and various Forest geckos and Elegens elegans geckos at 25 years. Predation
Yes. There are two native freshwater eel species in New Zealand. The longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) and the shortfin eel (Anguilla australis). There is an introduced species called the speckled longfin eel (Anguilla reinhardtii).
A native New Zealand flightless bird starting with W is the Weka.
Ruru (morepork) is an owl that is native to New Zealand.
New Zealand has no native land-based mammals apart from the Bat (pekapeka in Maori) There are no koalas in New Zealand, as the koala is native to Australia.
None. We don't have any in New Zealand.
Yes. There are two native freshwater eel species in New Zealand. The longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) and the shortfin eel (Anguilla australis). There is an introduced species called the speckled longfin eel (Anguilla reinhardtii).
Yes.
Maori is the native culture of New Zealand.
New Zealand does not have any native Quercus (oak) species.
Because it is native to New Zealand:)
The Maori are the native people of New Zealand.
New Zealand has no native land-based mammals apart from the Bat (pekapeka in Maori) There are no koalas in New Zealand, as the koala is native to Australia.
Yes the Australasian shoveler, kuruwhengu, New Zealand shoveler, Anas Rhynchotis (or whatever name you like to call it) is native to New Zealand as well as Australia.
No; there are no snakes native to New Zealand.
The New Zealand Little Bittern is an extinct species of bird that was native to New Zealand.
No.
A native New Zealand flightless bird starting with W is the Weka.