The lizard of the deep bush. A gecko that loves the trees. Forest Gecko has a love of trees and a talent for hiding. At seven to nine centimetres in length, it is a medium-sized gecko, with a flattened body, large eyes, and specialised toe pads that allow it to climb smooth surfaces. Its skin has a granular texture, rough to the touch, which gives it its species name – granulatus. A gecko that is rough to the touch. A gecko of the canopy. Found in native forests throughout New Zealand, from the podocarp forests of the North Island to the beech forests of the south. An arboreal species, spending most of its life in trees and shrubs, hiding under bark and in crevices during the day, emerging at night to hunt insects among the leaves and branches. 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. A generalist, able to live in a range of forest habitats. Found under bark, in tree hollows, in rock piles, and in the crevices of fallen logs. 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. The forest is dark. The gecko hides under the bark, flattened body, rough skin, large eyes watching for insects. It emerges at night. It hunts. It returns to its crevice. It does not know it is a creature of the ancient forest. It does not know it has lived in these trees for millions of years. It just wants to eat a moth. A reminder of the deep time of the bush, of the long history of life on these islands. The forest gecko is proof.