It is not just a pattern. It is a mask. Tukutuku rakiurae has a pattern as variable as it is beautiful. At six to eight centimetres in length, it is a small gecko. Spots and stripes resemble the costume of a harlequin. Brown, grey, and cream markings provide excellent camouflage among rocks and moss. A gecko of the southern island. Found only on Stewart Island, in coastal forests, scrublands, and rocky shorelines. A nocturnal species, hiding under rocks and bark during the day. Emerging at night to hunt insects. Harlequin pattern breaks up its outline. Making it nearly invisible against lichen-covered rocks. Tolerant of cold, wet conditions. Confined to southernmost part of country. 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. Must survive immediately in harsh environment. 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 and cats prey on adults and young. Climate change affects southern habitats. To see a Harlequin Gecko is to see one of New Zealand's rarest and most beautiful reptiles. A living mask. A flash of pattern in the southern bush. Its survival depends on habitat protection and predator control. On Rakiura and nearby islands, it clings to existence. Masked, rare, and beautiful. It carries on. For now.