vivid green gecko of the Marlborough Sounds
- Size
- Length: 7–9 cm
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Diet
- Insectivorous and frugivorous - feeds on insects, spiders, and fruit nectar. A diurnal gecko that basks in the sun on branches and leaves. Active during the day, particularly in the morning and late afternoon. Uses its specialised toe pads to climb smooth surfaces, including leaves and branches.
- Habitat
- Mānuka and kānuka scrublands and native broadleaf forests. Prefers dense vegetation for climbing and basking. Often found in the subcanopy, protected from wind and rain.
- Range
- Found only in the Marlborough region of the South Island, particularly in the Wairau Valley. Confined to a small area of the northern South Island.
- Endemism
- Endemic
- Main Threats
- Habitat loss from land development and vegetation clearance is the primary threat. Also threatened by predation from introduced rats, cats, and stoats, and by illegal collection for the pet trade due to its striking appearance. Classified as At Risk - Declining, with a small and decreasing population.
- Population
- A stunning bright green gecko found only in the Marlborough region of the South Island. The Marlborough Green Gecko is similar to other green geckos but has distinctive markings - bright green with pale yellow or white spots and stripes. It is a diurnal gecko, active during the day, and can often be seen basking on branches or leaves in mānuka and kānuka scrub.
- Conservation Status
- At Risk - Declining
The emerald of the Wairau. A gecko that is as beautiful as it is rare.
The Marlborough Green Gecko is defined by a beauty that is matched only by its rarity. At seven to nine centimetres in length, it is a small gecko, slender and agile, with a stunning bright green body and pale yellow or white spots and stripes. The belly is pale green to yellow, and the eyes are large and golden, with vertical pupils. A gecko that looks like a jewel.
This is a gecko of the manuka. The Marlborough Green Gecko is found only in the Marlborough region, in manuka and kanuka scrublands and native broadleaf forests. It is a diurnal species, active during the day, and it basks on branches and leaves, its green colouration blending perfectly with the foliage. A lizard that disappears against the leaves.
Biologically, the Marlborough Green Gecko is a viviparous species, giving birth to live young. Females produce one or two offspring each year, a slow reproductive rate that makes the species vulnerable to population decline. The young are born in late summer and are miniature versions of the adults, independent from birth.
The Marlborough Green Gecko is threatened by habitat loss, predation, and illegal collection. Its striking appearance makes it a target for the pet trade, and collectors have been known to remove individuals from the wild, further reducing already small populations.
To see a Marlborough Green Gecko is to see one of New Zealand's rarest and most beautiful reptiles. The manuka scrub is green. The gecko basks on a branch, bright green and spotted, gold eyes watching. The collector is looking. The gecko does not know it is rare. It does not know it is valuable.
It just wants to bask in the sun.