Reptiles of New Zealand

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The tuatara looks like a lizard, but is not one. Tuatara (5205719005).jpg
The tuatara looks like a lizard, but is not one.
Jewelled gecko Naultinus gemmeus 54485353.jpg
Jewelled gecko
Otago skink Oligosoma otagense 1970277.jpg
Otago skink
Yellow-bellied sea snake Hydrophis platurus 32924548.jpg
Yellow-bellied sea snake
Mauisaurus haasti, a plesiosaur Mauisaurus BW.jpg
Mauisaurus haasti , a plesiosaur

The extant (living) reptiles of New Zealand consist of numerous species of terrestrial lizards and the lizard-like tuatara, and several species of sea turtles and sea snakes. [1] All but one species are native to New Zealand, and all but one of the terrestrial species are endemic to New Zealand, that is, they are not found in any other country. Many species of foreign reptiles enter New Zealand through accidental importation or smuggling, [2] but only the Australian native Lampropholis delicata (rainbow skink or plague skink) has become established in the wild, [1] [2] and it is considered an invasive pest. [3]

Contents

Long-extinct taxa include numerous dinosaurs and other Mesozoic reptiles that are known from fossils found in New Zealand.

Taxa

Modern taxa

Extinct ancient taxa

Long-extinct taxa include numerous dinosaurs and other Mesozoic reptiles that are known from fossils found in New Zealand. The New Zealand mosasaur, named Moanasaurus , was one of the largest mosasaurs in the world. The New Zealand plesiosaur is named Mauisaurus .

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lepidosauria</span> Superorder of reptiles

The Lepidosauria is a subclass or superorder of reptiles, containing the orders Squamata and Rhynchocephalia. Squamata also includes lizards and snakes. Squamata contains over 9,000 species, making it by far the most species-rich and diverse order of non-avian reptiles in the present day. Rhynchocephalia was a formerly widespread and diverse group of reptiles in the Mesozoic Era. However, it is represented by only one living species: the tuatara, a superficially lizard-like reptile native to New Zealand.

<i>Lampropholis delicata</i> Species of lizard

Lampropholis delicata, the delicate skink, dark-flecked garden sun skink, garden skink, delicate garden skink, rainbow skink or plague skink, or the metallic skink is native to Australia and invasive in New Zealand and Hawaii where it is commonly found in gardens. The species is known for their color dimorphism between males and females; striped morphs and non-striped morphs exist in this species, however the stripe is less pronounced in males. This species' diet consists of a wide range of prey, such as spiders, bees, larvae, and termites. Mating occurs in the late summer and generally one clutch of 2 to 4 eggs are laid per year by each female.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea krait</span> Genus of snakes

Sea kraits are a genus of venomous snakes, Laticauda. They are semiaquatic, and retain the wide ventral scales typical of terrestrial snakes for moving on land, but also have paddle-shaped tails for swimming. Unlike fully aquatic ovoviviparous sea snakes, sea kraits are oviparous and must come to land to digest prey and lay eggs. They also have independent evolutionary origins into aquatic habitats, with sea kraits diverging earlier from other Australasian elapids. Thus, sea kraits and sea snakes are an example of convergent evolution into aquatic habitats within the Hydrophiinae snakes. Sea kraits are also often confused with land kraits , which are not aquatic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Réunion</span>

The wildlife of Réunion is composed of its flora, fauna and funga. Being a small island, it only has nine native species of mammals, but ninety-one species of birds.

References

  1. 1 2 Conservation Status of New Zealand Reptiles, 2021 (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series 35. Department of Conservation, New Zealand. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 Gill, B. J.; Bejakovich, D.; Whitaker, A. H. (2001). "Records of foreign reptiles and amphibians accidentally imported to New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 28 (3): 351–352. doi: 10.1080/03014223.2001.9518274 . S2CID   85031652.
  3. "Plague skinks". Department of Conservation, New Zealand. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  4. "Sea turtles". Department of Conservation, New Zealand. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  5. "Sea snakes and kraits". Department of Conservation, New Zealand. Retrieved 20 August 2023.