Woodworthia maculata

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Woodworthia maculata
NZ Common gecko.jpg
A common gecko, captured and photographed in a private garden, Wellington, January 2013
CITES Appendix III (CITES)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Diplodactylidae
Genus: Woodworthia
Species:
W. maculata
Binomial name
Woodworthia maculata
(Gray, 1845)
Synonyms [1]

Naultinus maculatusGray, 1845
Hoplodactylus maculatus
Woodworthia maculatus

Contents

Woodworthia maculata, also known as the New Zealand common gecko or Raukawa gecko, is a species in the family Diplodactylidae. [1] The specific name maculata means "speckled". [2]

Identification

W. maculata is a small to medium-sized gecko, with an average length of 155mm, [3] and has a predominant colour of grey or brown. [4] The name maculata refers to the speckled pattern seen on this species (NZ Herpetological Society). 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. [3] Woodworthia maculata often occupies the same area as a couple of 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. [5] 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. [6]

Range

W. maculata can be found all over New Zealand; however, individuals in different locations across the country (especially in the North Island) differ from each other in a number of ways. Individuals in the South Island are often more slender and darker in colour than those in the North Island. The species is not usually detected on Stewart Island. [7] 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. [8] Populations which occupy the Cook Strait and nearby mainland's show to be a mix of the common Northern and Southern forms. [5] In the Auckland Region, W. maculata is exclusively found on the east coast around the Hauraki Gulf, and another closely related species, the korowai gecko, is found on the west coast. [6]

Habitat preferences

W. maculata is terrestrial but is often found in trees, only in forested areas. [9] A study by H. Frank and DJ Wilson (2011) [10] showed that 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.

Life cycle

W. maculata has been found to have a characteristically long lifespan, with a suggested lifespan of 20 years. [11] Some individuals have been aged at 29 years. [12] [13] A more recent study proposes that the species may live up to 37 years in the wild. It has been suggested [12] that W. maculata may have a long lifespan to balance their slow reproductive rate. [14]

Diet

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. [15] 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. [13] 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. [16] 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. [13] Cree [14] found that W. maculata reproduces annually and has evidence to suggest that some populations may be reproducing biannually. Cree [14] 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. [17]

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.

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

The Auckland green gecko is a species of gecko found only in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand, except north of Whangaroa. The Wellington green gecko, formerly considered a subspecies, is found in the southern half of the North Island. The ranges overlap in places through the central North Island and hybrids may occur. Its length is up to 145 mm, snout to vent.

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

The Wellington green gecko is a species of gecko found only in the southern half of the North Island of New Zealand. It was previously considered a subspecies of the Auckland green gecko, and together called the common green gecko.

<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">Jewelled gecko</span> Species of lizard

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<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. Granulatus refers to the granular texture of the skin. Its Māori name is moko pirirākau. It is found in all parts of the country except the Far North, Marlborough, 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.

<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.

Hoplodactylus tohu, the Tohu gecko, is a species of lizard of the family Diplodactylidae. The lizard is found in the Marlborough Sounds / Cook Strait area of New Zealand.

<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">Oaia Island</span> Island in New Zealand

Oaia Island is an island on the west coast of the Auckland Region, New Zealand, near Muriwai. Home to an Australasian gannet colony, the island was traditionally used as a seasonal food resource for Tāmaki Māori iwi, including Te Kawerau ā Maki. Over the 21st century, the gannet population grew significantly, which had a negative impact on the island's flora, and led to gannets colonising areas of the Muriwai mainland. The island is a known location where the rare korowai gecko has been found.

References

  1. 1 2 Woodworthia maculata at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 11 October 2018.
  2. ↑ New Zealand Frogs and Reptiles, Brian Gill and Tony Whitaker, David Bateman limited, 2001
  3. 1 2 Jewell, T. 2008 A photographic guide to reptiles and amphibians of New Zealand. New Holland, Auckland. 144 p.
  4. ↑ Towns, D. R. (1985). A field guide to the lizards of New Zealand. Wellington, N.Z.: New Zealand Wildlife Service, Dept. of Internal Affairs
  5. 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.
  6. 1 2 "Korowai gecko". New Zealand Herpetological Society. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  7. ↑ Hitchmough, Rodney Arthur (1997). "A Systematic Revision of the New Zealand Gekkonidae". Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ 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 .
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 1 2 3 Bauer, A. M. (2013). Geckos: The animal answer guide. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
  14. 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 .
  15. ↑ Rowlands, R. P. (1995). New Zealand geckos: A guide to captive maintenance and breeding. Auckland, N.Z.: Print Media Specialists.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ 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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