A golden thread runs along its back. Woodworthia chrysosiretica has a stripe that sets it apart from all other New Zealand geckos. At six to eight centimetres in length, it is a small gecko. Grey to brown body features a distinctive gold-coloured stripe running along back. Belly is pale cream. Eyes are large and dark, adapted for night vision. A gecko of the rocks. Found only in Taranaki region, in rocky outcrops, coastal cliffs, and native forests. A nocturnal species, hiding under rocks and bark during day. Emerging at night to hunt insects. Gold stripe provides camouflage among lichen-covered rocks. Tolerant of salt spray and windy conditions. Confined to western North Island. Viviparous, giving birth to live young. Females produce one or two offspring each year. A slow reproductive rate that makes species vulnerable to population decline. Young are born in late summer and are miniature versions of adults. Independent from birth, they must survive immediately. Threatened by habitat loss and predation. Restricted range makes it vulnerable to localised threats. Population is declining. Land development and vegetation clearance are primary threats. Introduced rats, cats, and stoats prey on adults and young. Climate change affects coastal habitats. To see a Goldstripe Gecko is to see one of New Zealand's rarest and most distinctive reptiles. A living thread of gold. A flash of colour in Taranaki rocks. Its survival depends on habitat protection and predator control. Around Mount Taranaki and surrounding hills, it clings to existence. Golden, rare, and local. It carries on. For now.