jewelled gecko glittering with pale spots on dark green
- Size
- Length: 7–9 cm
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Diet
- Insectivorous and frugivorous. Feeds on insects, spiders, fruit, and nectar. Diurnal gecko basking in sun on branches. Active in morning and late afternoon.
- Habitat
- Coastal forests, shrublands, and rocky outcrops. Prefers dense vegetation with branches for climbing. Often found in mānuka and kānuka scrub.
- Range
- Found in South Island, particularly Otago, Southland, and Catlins. Common in coastal forests and shrublands. Also on Otago Peninsula and Stewart Island.
- Endemism
- Endemic
- Main Threats
- Habitat loss from land development and forest clearance. Predation from introduced rats, cats, and stoats. Illegal collection for pet trade due to appearance.
- Population
- At Risk - Declining. Stunning bright green gecko with gold markings. Diurnal, active during day. Target for illegal collectors. One of most beautiful reptiles.
- Conservation Status
- At Risk - Declining
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- protected native gecko, do not handle or disturb to prevent stress
- Conservation Note
- Endemic gecko; restricted to northern offshore islands and declining due to predation risk.
- Assessment
- NZTCS Reptiles and Amphibians (2021)
- Te Ao Māori
- In Māori tradition, Jewelled Gecko was moko kākāriki (green lizard). A creature of forest and sun. Bright green colour associated with new growth of spring. With life and energy of bush. Gold markings seen as tears of sun shed on leaves of forest. It was a taonga (treasure). A creature to be admired from a distance, never harmed.
It does not hide well. The Jewelled Gecko is the emerald of the South Island. Defined by a beauty that is both its blessing and its curse. At seven to nine centimetres in length, it is a small gecko. Slender and agile. Stunning bright green body covered in distinctive gold markings. Spots, stripes, and flecks look like jewellery set into skin. Belly is pale green to yellow. Eyes are large and golden, with vertical pupils.
Naultinus gemmeus is a gecko that does not hide. It is diurnal, active during the day. It basks in the sun on branches and leaves. Green colouration blends perfectly with foliage. But when it moves, gold markings flash. Giving away its presence to any predator that is watching. An arboreal species, spending most of life in branches of trees and shrubs. Uses specialised toe pads to climb smooth surfaces. Agile hunter, stalking insects and spiders among foliage. Also eats fruit and nectar.
Biologically, the Jewelled Gecko is 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.
Decline has been driven by habitat loss, predation, and illegal collection. Striking appearance makes it a target for pet trade. Collectors remove individuals from wild, further reducing already small populations. Predation by rats, cats, and stoats is also a significant threat. Classified as At Risk - Declining.
To see a Jewelled Gecko is to see one of New Zealand's most beautiful reptiles. It is a living jewel. A flash of green and gold in the South Island bush. Its survival depends on us. On protection of habitat, control of predators, enforcement of laws against illegal collection. It carries on.