Gecko or Skink?

What kind?
Where would you find this critter?
Habitat?
 Gecko or Skink?
What kind?
Where would you find this critter?
Habitat?
 Gecko or Skink?
What kind?
Where would you find this critter?
Habitat?
 Gecko or Skink?
What kind?
Where would you find this critter?
Habitat?
 This guy....
Tell me more....
 Gecko or Skink?
What kind?
Where would you find this critter?
Habitat?


KNOX ECOLOGY
A brief introduction to New Zealand lizards

New Zealand has a large number of lizard species with around 100 currently recognised
(around 43 geckos and 57 skinks).
All of these lizard species are endemic to New Zealand, with the exception of one introduced
Australian skink currently restricted to the North Island.
A significant component of our lizard fauna (~85%) are recognised as Threatened or At Risk
in the latest DOC threat ranking.
Introduced pest species such as mice, rats, hedgehogs, weasels, stoats, ferrets, cats, and
possums pose a significant threat to our lizards with the most significant predator/s varying
between different species and habitats.
Habitat loss or degradation is also a significant ongoing threat.

Geckos have broad heads with large eyes, definite necks, and soft, velvety-looking
baggy skin. Skinks are more slender than geckos, with narrow heads and small eyes, and
have smooth, tight-fitting skin. Unlike skinks, geckos cannot blink and must lick their eyes
to keep them moist.

 Lizards are found throughout New Zealand on both main islands and most
offshore islands.
They inhabit a wide range of altitudes (from sea level to c. 2200 m) and a
wide variety of habitat types (forest and scrub, tussock grasslands, rock
outcrops and screes, wetlands, coastal dunes, and rank exotic grasslands
including roadsides).
New Zealand lizards (particularly geckos) are slow breeding and long-lived.
Some geckos have been shown to live for at least 50 years in the wild.
New Zealand lizards are unusual in that they give birth to live young rather
than laying eggs like most lizards do in other countries.
New Zealand lizards eat a wide range of invertebrates and also eat the
berries of native shrubs such as Coprosma spp. and the nectar of some
flowers.
All New Zealand lizards are fully protected, meaning that a permit (issued
by DOC) is required to handle, collect, or keep lizards in captivity. It is
illegal to deliberately harm or disturb them.
 Report lizard sightings to the nearest DOC office. In particular, report
sightings of lizards in alpine areas. If possible, photograph the lizard, note
down the exact location, including details of the surrounding habitat, and
its colour and approximate size.
Provide habitat for lizards. You can encourage lizards to visit your garden
or property by providing heaps of rocks with tight spaces in between and
large areas of dense, divaricating shrubs eg. Coprosma spp. and
Muehlenbeckia spp., tussocks and grasses. These will not only provide
safe cover, but will also provide fruit and attract insects to feed on.

Help stop gecko smuggling Some gecko species are being illegally
collected for the international reptile trade. You can help stop this trade by
reporting suspicious activities and vehicle licence numbers immediately to
the 24 hour hotline, 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

 Some pictures...

http://www.ecogecko.co.nz/gallery.php
 What can we do?
https://www.reptiles.org.nz/conservation/what-can-you-do
http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/get-involved/backyard-
projects-/backyard-biodiversity-/creating-lizard-friendly-
garden
 More pictures for inspiration
https://www.knoxecology.co.nz/photographs
 http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/lizards
Story Summary
All images & media in this storyDuvaucel's gecko
Chatham Island skink
Egg-laying skink nest
Common green geckos
Geckos and skinks
New Zealand has two lizard families skinks and geckos. There are probably over 80 species, but new
species have been discovered and some have not yet been named.
Appearance
Skinks have smooth skin, small legs, and small eyes that can blink.
Geckos have scaly skin that looks a bit baggy, stout legs, and large eyes that cannot blink.
Reproduction
Lizards overseas usually lay eggs, but most in New Zealand give birth to live young. This might be an
adaptation to cooler weather. New Zealand lizards have fewer young than elsewhere geckos have two
young every one or two years, and skinks have between two and five each year.
Habitat and diet
You will find lizards almost everywhere in New Zealand, except the subtropical Kermadec Islands or the
cold subantarctic islands. For example, the egg-laying skink lives near the coast in the northern North
Island, while the black-eyed gecko lives only high in the mountains near Kaikura and Nelson.
Most lizards eat insects, fruit or seeds. The scree skink will eat other lizards.
Origins
It is uncertain whether lizards lived on New Zealand when it broke away from the supercontinent
Gondwana, 85 million years ago, or whether they are more recent arrivals. Some scientists think that
lizards may have been carried across the ocean on pieces of wood, 2040 million years ago.
Extinction
Since people and mammalian predators (such as cats and rats) arrived in New Zealand, at least three lizard
species have become extinct. Another eight are extinct on the mainland and can only be found on
predator-free islands.
Almost half of New Zealands reptiles are threatened or endangered. It is illegal to handle or keep any
native lizard without a permit from the Department of Conservation.