Woodworthia maculata

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Woodworthia maculata
Woodworthia maculata 202953936 01.jpg
Woodworthia maculata seen in the Wellington Region
CITES Appendix III (CITES)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Infraorder: Gekkota
Family: Diplodactylidae
Genus: Woodworthia
Species:
W. maculata
Binomial name
Woodworthia maculata
(Gray, 1845)
Woodworthia maculata - map.svg
Distribution of Woodworthia maculata in New Zealand
  Known native range
Synonyms [1]
  • Naultinus maculatusGray, 1845
  • Hoplodactylus maculatus
  • Woodworthia maculatus

Woodworthia maculata, also known as the New Zealand common gecko or Raukawa gecko, is a species in the family Diplodactylidae. [1] The species is endemic to New Zealand.

Contents

Taxonomy

The species was first mentioned by John Edward Gray in 1845 as Naultinus maculatus. Gray's mention lacked a description and referenced manuscript notes, so it is unclear if Gray considered N. maculatus to be a synonym of Naultinus pacificus . [2] [3] The first formal description of the species was written by George Albert Boulenger in 1885, which he described as Hoplodactylus maculatus. [4] [3] Its status as a distinct species was undetermined until 1977. [3] The species was first described as a member of the genus Woodworthia (as Woodworthia maculatus) by herpetologist Tony R. Jewell in A Photographic Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians of New Zealand (2008), [5] a distinction that was supported by phylogenetic analysis of New Zealand gecko species. [6]

The specific name maculata means "speckled", referring to the speckled pattern seen on this species. [7] [8]

Description

W. maculata is a small to medium-sized gecko, with an average length of 155 mm (6.1 in), [9] and has a predominant colour of grey or brown. [10] The eyes are a greenish brown, with the snout-to-eye distance slightly longer, or equal to, the eye-to-ear distance. 'The mouth is lined in pink and has a pink tongue with a grey tip. [9] W. maculata often occupies the same area as a few similar looking geckos; Dactylocnemis pacificus and W. chrysosireticus . W. maculata can be distinguished from W. chrysosireticus by the lack of black speckles which are seen on W. chrysosireticus. W. maculata differs from D. pacificus when looking closely at the nostril. In maculata the nostril scale is not in contact with the nostril, but in D. pacificus it is in contact. [11] The species can be distinguished from the korowai gecko due to different ranges, as the korowai gecko is found exclusively on the west coast of the Auckland Region, and due to Woodworthia maculata having longer distal phalanges. [12]

Individuals in the South Island are often more slender and darker in colour than those in the North Island. [13]

Range

W. maculata can be found in the North Island of New Zealand, and northern sections of the South Island. The species is widely distributed in the lower North Island and in the Gisborne District. Further north, the species is exclusively found on the eastern Pacific coast of the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel Peninsula, Auckland Region and Northland. [8] In addition, the species can be found in many offshore islands of the Cook Strait and Hauraki Gulf. [8]

Habitat preferences

W. maculata is terrestrial but is often found in trees, only in forested areas. [14] A study by H. Frank and DJ Wilson (2011) showed that W. maculata is also commonly found in rocky areas with cracks and crevices, without a permanent shade cover. Few individuals were detected in highly grazed areas with no grass cover remaining. [15]

In the Hauraki Gulf, the geckos are commonly found on stony beaches and are a smaller size, with crenulated longitudinal stripes. W. maculata are found in the Coromandel and central North Island are generally found in lowland forests and are much larger, as well as being of various colours. The Southern North Island populations appear to be two-thirds smaller than nearby populations and exhibit sexual dimorphism. [16] Populations which occupy the Cook Strait and nearby mainland's show to be a mix of the common Northern and Southern forms. [11]

Life cycle

W. maculata has been found to have a characteristically long lifespan, with a suggested lifespan of 20 years. [17] Some individuals have been aged at 29 years. [18] [19] A more recent study proposes that the species may live up to 37 years in the wild. It has been suggested [18] that W. maculata may have a long lifespan to balance their slow reproductive rate. [20]

Diet

Raukawa gecko eating berries Woodworthia maculata 202953935 02.jpg
Raukawa gecko eating berries

Geckos have a simple diet of live insects and smaller organisms. The diet of a gecko includes, but is not limited to, spiders, isopodas, moths, flies, grasshoppers and caterpillars. As expected, due to an individual's size and preference, the diet has a lot of variation. In other gecko species, the tail acts as a storage organ which can hold reserves of fat which the individual can use in times of food scarcity. [21] Most gecko species cannot digest leaves and other tough plant material easily, however W. maculata and other New Zealand gecko species feed off plant material that is easily digestible and high in energy like pollen, nectar, sap or fruit. [19] Mainland geckos are commonly preyed on invasive species such as stoats, cats, hedgehogs and rodents. On off-shore islands where these invasive species are not present, the morepork is considered the main predator. [22] Rodents eat both the adult gecko and their eggs and are particularly dangerous for larger geckos. Although W. maculata are too small to fight them off, their heads are too big to fit in gaps small enough in which they would be safe from the predator. [19] Cree [20] found that W. maculata reproduces annually and has evidence to suggest that some populations may be reproducing biannually. Cree [20] also recognised that on average, each female produces less than 2 offspring per year and are slow to mature.

Conservation status

As of 2021, the Department of Conservation (DOC) classified the common gecko as Not Threatened under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. [23]

Related Research Articles

<i>Hoplodactylus</i> Genus of lizards

Hoplodactylus is a genus of geckos in the family Diplodactylidae. The genus is endemic to New Zealand, one of the seven genera of geckos found only in New Zealand. Hoplodactylus comprises two species of large to gigantic brownish lizards.

<i>Naultinus</i> Genus of lizards

Naultinus is a genus of geckos that are endemic to New Zealand. On account of their striking colouration, species in the genus Naultinus are commonly known as green geckos. There are nine described species in the genus. Species in the genus share a number of traits that set them apart as quite different from the rest of the world's two thousand odd gecko species, which are generally brown in colour, ovivaparous, short-lived and nocturnal. In contrast, Naultinus are green, ovovivaparous, live up to 30 years or more and are strictly diurnal. New Zealand has a temperate, maritime climate, and in terms of distribution Naultinus is one of the southernmost gecko genera in the world — some species live in habitats in the South Island which receive regular snowfall in winter. Animals in this genus possess several physiological and behavioural adaptations to cope with these periods of low temperatures and adverse weather.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duvaucel's gecko</span> Species of reptile

Duvaucel's gecko is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand and regarded as 'at risk' by the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) due to distribution limitations.

<i>Gigarcanum</i> Extinct species of lizard

Gigarcanum delcourti, formerly Hoplodactylus delcourti, is an extinct species of gecko in the family Diplodactylidae. It is the largest known of all geckos, with a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 37 cm (14.6 in) and an overall length of at least 60 cm (23.6 in). It is only known from a single taxidermied specimen collected in the 19th century that was rediscovered unlabelled in a museum in France. The origin of the specimen was undocumented. While originally suggested to have been from New Zealand and the kawekaweau of Māori oral tradition, DNA evidence from the specimen suggests that it originates from New Caledonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auckland green gecko</span> Species of lizard

The Auckland green gecko, also known as the elegant gecko, is a species of gecko found only in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand, except north of Whangaroa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gold-striped gecko</span> Species of reptile

The gold-striped gecko, gold-stripe gecko, or golden sticky-toed gecko is a species of gecko in the family Diplodactylidae. It is endemic to New Zealand, and is only found in the Taranaki region and Mana Island. The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-eyed gecko</span> Species of lizard

The black-eyed gecko, also known commonly as Whitaker's sticky-toed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. An alpine gecko species, discovered in 1970, it inhabits high-altitude mountains in three areas of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the highest-altitude lizard species in New Zealand, living up to 2,200 m (7,200 ft) above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlequin gecko</span> Species of lizard

The harlequin gecko, formerly Hoplodactylus rakiurae, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to Stewart Island / Rakiura in the far south of New Zealand, where it was discovered in 1969. In terms of distribution it is one of the southernmost gecko species in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen's Island gecko</span> Species of reptile

The Stephen's Island gecko, also known commonly as the Cook Strait striped gecko, Stephen's sticky-toed gecko, and the striped gecko, is a species of gecko in the genus Toropuku in the family Diplodactylidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest gecko</span> Species of lizard

The forest gecko is a species of gecko that is endemic to New Zealand. Its Māori name is moko pirirākau. It is found in all parts of the country except the Far North and Canterbury. It is a protected species under the Wildlife Act 1953.

<i>Dactylocnemis</i> Genus of lizards

Dactylocnemis pacificus, the Pacific gecko or Pacific sticky-toed gecko, is a species in the family Gekkonidae, endemic to the North Island and offshore islands of New Zealand. D. pacificus is the only described species in the genus Dactylocnemis, but five offshore island forms may represent new species, one of which is the Mokohinau gecko.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tākitimu gecko</span> Species of lizard

The Tākitimu gecko is an endemic species of gecko in the family Diplodactylidae found in the Southland region of New Zealand. Tākitimu gecko were first described by Jewell and Leschen in 2004 as Hoplodactylus cryptozoicus.

<i>Mokopirirakau</i> Cryptic Alpine Gecko Genus in New Zealand

The Mokopirirakau genus comprises alpine geckos found only in New Zealand. The name is Māori, and comes from “Moko”, referring to lizards, and “pirirakau”, which refers to forests. This is a newly recognized genus as it was previously included in the Hoplodactylus genus. Many of the species within this genus are still at candidatus status because of this, but also because of the difficulty that comes with researching these species and this genus in particular. Much of the current research about geckos in New Zealand is built off assumptions, indicating that better surveying methods are needed to come to any real conclusions about their behaviour and ecology.

<i>Woodworthia</i> Genus of lizards

Woodworthia is a genus of geckos in the family Diplodactylidae endemic to New Zealand. It includes four formally described species, though as many as 17 genetically distinct species may exist. All species are native to New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canterbury gecko</span> Species of lizard

The Canterbury gecko is a gecko found in the South Island of New Zealand. It is also known by the Māori names Waitaha gecko and Moko-pāpā, and as the brown gecko. It had previously been placed in a different genus and called Hoplodactylus brunneus, but further study split the genus Hoplodactylus into six genera, with some groups close to the former Hoplodactylus maculatus "Canterbury" being assigned to the new genus Woodworthia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygopodoidea</span> Superfamily of lizards

Pygopodoidea is a gecko superfamily and the only taxon in the gekkotan subclade Pygopodomorpha. The clade includes three Australasian families: Diplodactylidae, Carphodactylidae, and Pygopodidae. Traditional gekkotan systematics had considered Diplodactylidae and Carphodactylidae as subfamilies of the family Gekkonidae, but recent molecular work have placed Pygopodidae within Gekkonidae making it paraphyletic. These analyses have shown support of Pygopodidae and Carphodactylidae being sister taxa, with Diplodactylidae occupying a basal position in Pygopodoidea.

Joan Robb was a New Zealand herpetologist and wildlife tour guide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korowai gecko</span> Species of lizard

The korowai gecko, also known as the Muriwai gecko, is a gecko found on the west coast of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. First discovered on Oaia Island in 1954, the species was recognised as distinct from Woodworthia maculata in 2016, and was formally described in 2023. Only 32 individuals are known to exist as of 2023, all within a very restricted range, on Te Korowai-o-Te-Tonga Peninsula, Muriwai Beach, Muriwai Regional Park and Oaia Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mokohinau gecko</span> Species of lizard

The Mokohinau gecko is an undescribed species of gecko found in the Mokohinau Islands, 100 km (62 mi) north of Auckland in the Auckland Region of New Zealand.

References

  1. 1 2 Woodworthia maculata at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 11 October 2018.
  2. ↑ Gray, John Edward; British Museum (Natural History). Department of Zoology. (1845), Catalogue of the Specimens of lizards in the collection of the British museum, London: Printed by order of the Trustees, doi:10.5962/BHL.TITLE.5499, LCCN   06018121, OCLC   4208787, OL   7032217M, Wikidata   Q51454595
  3. 1 2 3 Robb, J.; Rowlands, R. P. V. (1977). "Reinstatement of Hoplodactylus maculatus (Boulenger) with Redescription of H. pacificus (Gray) (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae)". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum . 14: 133–142. ISSN   0067-0464. JSTOR   42906255. Wikidata   Q58677060.
  4. ↑ Boulenger, George Albert; British Museum (Natural History). Department of Zoology. (1885), Catalogue of the lizards in the British museum (Natural history) (2nd ed.), London: Printed by order of the Trustees, doi:10.5962/BHL.TITLE.53974, OCLC   9795264, Wikidata   Q51454423
  5. ↑ King, Carolyn M.; Chapple, David G.; Hitchmough, Rod A.; Jewell, Tony (January 2009). "Dynamic taxonomy versus field identification: A dilemma for New Zealand herpetologists". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 36 (1): 59–71. doi:10.1080/03014220909510140. ISSN   0301-4223. Wikidata   Q101631653.
  6. ↑ Nielsen, Stuart V.; Bauer, Aaron M.; Jackman, Todd R.; Hitchmough, Rod A.; Daugherty, Charles H. (22 December 2010). "New Zealand geckos (Diplodactylidae): Cryptic diversity in a post-Gondwanan lineage with trans-Tasman affinities". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 59 (1): 1–22. doi:10.1016/J.YMPEV.2010.12.007. ISSN   1055-7903. PMID   21184833. Wikidata   Q33780218.
  7. ↑ New Zealand Frogs and Reptiles, Brian Gill and Tony Whitaker, David Bateman limited, 2001
  8. 1 2 3 van Winkel, Dylan; Baling, Marleen; Hitchmough, Rod (2018). Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand (1st ed.). Auckland: Auckland University Press. pp. 116–119. ISBN   978-1-86940-937-1. OL   40449345M. Wikidata   Q76013985.
  9. 1 2 Jewell, T. 2008 A photographic guide to reptiles and amphibians of New Zealand. New Holland, Auckland. 144 p.
  10. ↑ Towns, D. R. (1985). A field guide to the lizards of New Zealand. Wellington, N.Z.: New Zealand Wildlife Service, Dept. of Internal Affairs
  11. 1 2 Bell T (compiler) 2010: NZ Lizards Database Species Synopsis. Common Gecko, Woodworthia maculatus Available: http://herpetology.landcareresearch.co.nz%5B%5D. Accession date: 06/04/2016. Landcare Research NZ Ltd.
  12. ↑ "Korowai gecko". New Zealand Herpetological Society. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  13. ↑ Hitchmough, Rodney Arthur (1997). "A Systematic Revision of the New Zealand Gekkonidae". Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  14. ↑ Wotton, Debra M. (2002). "Effectiveness of the common gecko (Hoplodactylus maculatus) as a seed disperser on Mana Island, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 40 (4): 639–647. doi:10.1080/0028825X.2002.9512820. S2CID   86800029.
  15. ↑ Frank, H.; Wilson, D.J. (2011). "Distribution, status and conservation measures for lizards in limestone areas of South Canterbury, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 38 (1): 15–28. doi: 10.1080/03014223.2010.520326 .
  16. ↑ Whitaker, A.H. "Interim results from a study of Hoplodactylus maculatus (Boulenger) at Turakirae Head, Wellington". New Zealand Wildlife Service occasional publication No. 2. Archived from the original on 2016-05-08. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  17. ↑ Whitaker, A. H. (1987). "The roles of lizards in New Zealand plant reproductive strategies". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 25 (2): 315–328. doi:10.1080/0028825X.1987.10410078.
  18. 1 2 Bannock, C. A.; Whitaker, A.H.; Hickling, G.J. (1999). "Extreme longevity of the common gecko (Hoplodactylus maculatus) on Motunau Island, Canterbury, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 23 (1): 101–103. JSTOR   24054753.
  19. 1 2 3 Bauer, A. M. (2013). Geckos: The animal answer guide. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
  20. 1 2 3 Cree, Alison (1994). "Low annual reproductive output in female reptiles from New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 21 (4): 351–372. doi: 10.1080/03014223.1994.9518005 .
  21. ↑ Rowlands, R. P. (1995). New Zealand geckos: A guide to captive maintenance and breeding. Auckland, N.Z.: Print Media Specialists.
  22. ↑ Kelly, Clint D. (2015). "Sexual size and shape dimorphism and allometric scaling patterns in head traits in the New Zealand common gecko Woodworthia maculatus". Zoology. 118 (4): 248–254. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2015.02.002. PMID   25958103.
  23. ↑ Hitchmough, R.; Barr, B.; Knox, C.; Lettink, M.; Monks, J. M.; Patterson, G. B.; Reardon, J. T.; van Winkel, D.; Rolfe, J.; Michel, P. (2021). Conservation Status of New Zealand Reptiles, 2021 (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. Vol. 35. Department of Conservation. pp. 3–6. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
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