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Woodworthia maculata
Raukawa gecko | Moko pāpā
Woodworthia maculata
(Gray, 1845)
Length: SVL up to 89mm, with the tail being equal to or longer than the body length
Weight: up to 14 grams
Description
A small to medium sized gecko with a stout tail, often the length of the body. Dorsal (upper) surface largely grey or brown with irregular markings, including black, white, yellow/orange, and olive green patches. Often marked with transverse (blotches or bands), or longitudinal (stripes) markings. A canthal stripe (between the nostril and eye) may or may not be present. Ventral (lower) surface usually plain and pale. Up to 82mm SVL (snout-vent-length). The mouth lining is pink and the tongue is pink with grey tip. The rostral scale does not extend to nostrils. Snout to ear distance ≥ eye to ear distance. Toes have expanded pads (more so than Dactylocnemis geckos): pads extend further in brown gecko). Sexes can be distinguished with males having 1 or 2 blunt enlarged scales either side of the tail base; males also have a broad patch of preanal and femoral pores.
Life expectancy
Estimates of life expectancy vary from 15-27 years in the wild, with reports of at least 37 years for captive animals.
Distribution
Strongly coastal throughout the north-eastern North Island, although more widespread across the lower North Island and northern South Island. Absent from the North Island's west coast north of the Wellington region. In the South Island, Raukawa geckos are confined to the Marlborough and Nelson / Tasman regions.
Ecology and habitat
A terrestrial, saxicolous or arboreal species which can be found across a wide range of habitats (from shorelines to inland beech and broadleaf forest). Nocturnal but will sun bask.
Social structure
Highly gregarious and can form large aggregations in suitable habitats. However, males have been known to be territorial, particularly in captive group situations.
Breeding biology
Ovoviviparous, generally giving birth to twins annually in the late summer.
Diet
Invertebrates, nectar, and the fruit and berries of several native and exotic plant species. Often associated with flowering flax, pohutukawa and honeydew produced by scale insects.
Disease
Variety of endoparasitic nematodes and ectoparasites of the Acari family. Black spot fungi, ulcerative dermatitis, mycotic pneumonitits and mycotic septicaemia.
Conservation status
The species are listed by DOC as 'not threatened' with a large and stable population.
Interesting notes
Raukawa geckos are one of the most widespread species of Woodworthia, with their distribution including the majority of the North Island, as well as the Cook Strait Islands, Marlborough Sounds and northern South Island. Interestingly at the northern extent of their range - lower Northland to the Bay of Plenty - they are primarily associated with coastal habitats. It has been suggested that this pattern of distribution may be a result of interspecific competition with Pacific geckos (Dactylocnemis pacificus) - a species that shares similarities in its ecology and overlaps within this region (pers.comm Tim Harker).
Raukawa geckos are members of the 'common gecko' complex, a group of closely related species which are regionally distributed throughout New Zealand. Historically, most of these were considered a single highly-variable species - Hoplodactylus maculatus (the so called 'common gecko'). The 'common gecko' has now been separated into over ten different species.
The specific name ‘maculata’ means ‘speckled’.
References
Ainsworth, R. (1985). An evaluation of some island biogeographic theories using lizards and lizard parasites in the Wellington region.
Unpublished master's dissertation. Victoria University: Wellington, New Zealand.
Gill, B., & Whitaker, T. (2007). New Zealand frogs and reptiles. Auckland: David Bateman Limited.
Green, N.D. (2001). Resurvey of a lizard community at Turakirae head, Wellington. Unpublished BSc honours thesis. Victoria University: Wellington, New Zealand.
Jewell, T. (2011). A photographic guide to reptiles and amphibians of New Zealand. Auckland: New Holland Publishers.
Marshall, J.M. (1983). Homing and celestial orientation in two lizards Hoplodactylus maculatus and Leiolopisma nigriplantare. Unpublished BSc honours dissertation. Victoria University: Wellington, New Zealand.
Meads, M.J. (1982). A proposed revision of the Naultinus/Heteropholis species complex. In: New Zealand Herpetology. Proceedings of a Symposium held at the Victoria University of Wellington, 29-31 January 1980 (pp. 29-31). Victoria University: Wellington, New Zealand.
Robinson, M. (1985). Sexual cycles of New Zealand lizards, with particular reference to the gecko Hoplodactylus maculatus (Boulenger) (Doctoral dissertation, Victoria University of Wellington).
Twentyman, C. (1999). Diseases in New Zealand reptiles. Surveillance, 26, 3.
van Winkel, D., Baling, M. & Hitchmough, R. (2018). Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand: A field guide. Auckland: Auckland University Press, 376 pp.
Whitaker, A.H. (1982). Interim results from a study of Hoplodactylus maculatus (Boulenger) at Turakirae Head, Wellington. In: D.G. Newman (Ed.), New Zealand Herpetology. Proceedings of a Symposium held at the Victoria University of Wellington 29-31 January 1980 (pp. 363-374).
New Zealand Wildlife Service occasional publication No. 2. 495 p.
Raukawa gecko on rock pile (Moutohorā / Whale Island, Bay of Plenty). © Nick Harker
