You have likely heard it before you saw it. The Common Gecko is the everyday lizard of New Zealand. Woodworthia maculata has an adaptability that allows it to thrive where other reptiles struggle. At six to eight centimetres in length, it is a small gecko. It has a flattened body, large eyes, and specialised toe pads that allow it to climb smooth surfaces. Colouration is variable. Grey to brown, often with darker bands or spots that provide camouflage against bark and rocks. A gecko of the night. The Common Gecko is nocturnal. It hides under rocks, bark, and in crevices during the day. Emerging at dusk to hunt, it is a patient predator. It waits motionless for an insect to pass, then strikes with a sudden lunge. Its large eyes are adapted for low light. Its tongue flicks out to taste the air, sensing the presence of prey and predators. Insectivorous, it feeds on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. Viviparous, giving birth to live young. Females produce one or two offspring each year. A slow reproductive rate typical of New Zealand geckos. The young are born in late summer and are miniature versions of the adults. Independent from birth, they must survive on their own. A generalist, able to live in a wide range of habitats. Forests, scrublands, grasslands, coastal dunes, rocky outcrops, and even urban gardens. Found under bark, in rock piles, in stone walls, and in the crevices of buildings. A familiar sight to anyone who spends time in the New Zealand bush. Though its nocturnal habits mean it is more often heard than seen. Not threatened. Widespread and common, with healthy populations throughout the country. Still vulnerable to predation by introduced rats and cats. Habitat loss from land development poses a risk. In urban areas, often killed by domestic cats. Populations can decline dramatically where cats are abundant. To see a Common Gecko is to see a survivor. A lizard that has adapted to the changes humans have brought. Finding new homes in our gardens, our walls, our rock piles. A reminder that even the most common creatures are worth protecting.