Common Gecko

Scientific Name: Hoplodactylus maculatus

Although there have been occasional, unconfirmed, reports of 'green geckos' in forest areas on Tiritiri Matangi, there have never been records of any of the native brown geckos (Hoplodactylus geckos) that are commonly found on other offshore islands (even in the presence of rodents) and on parts of the mainland.
 
But a set of strange prints were discovered during regular checking of the DoC tracking tunnels which are set to monitor for rodent incursions on Tiritiri Matangi. These were confirmed to be prints of a New Zealand brown gecko - probably Common Gecko or Pacific Gecko.
 
A subsequent survey of the area at night found probable sign of geckos living in the crevices of cliffs near the tracking tunnel site. A brief search during the day of the cliff face and nearby rock outcrop found four brown geckos. Because the geckos were buried deep in rock crevices, their identify could not be confirmed, but it seems likely that they are the Common Gecko Hoplodactylus maculatus, a native New Zealand gecko which is actually quite rare on the mainland, but reaches huge numbers in places were introduced mammals have been eradicated.

The geckos on Tiritiri Matangi are undoubtedly a remnant of a much larger population that once inhabited the island and that has survived the turbulent history of farming, frequent annual burning and kiore. Two of the geckos found were young, indicating that there is a breeding population on the cliffs. A survey planned for the near future will help determine the size and distribution of the gecko across the island.

This discovery brings the total number of lizards species on the island to 3 (copper skink, moko skink, unidentified brown gecko), still well short of the estimated 10 species that once lived on Tiritiri Matangi. DOC hope that other geckos or large skinks may also have survived on the island and may slowly make their presence known as their numbers increase.

Photography by Simon Fordham ©.