nelson green gecko hidden in the top of the South Island
- 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 Nelson region of the South Island, particularly in hills around Nelson city and eastern Tasman district. 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 Nelson region of the South Island. The Nelson Green Gecko has distinctive star-like spots (stellatus means "starred") - bright green with white or pale yellow spots that are often arranged in star-like patterns. 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 starry gem of the northern South Island. A gecko with a constellation on its back.
The Nelson Green Gecko is defined by a pattern of spots that looks like a constellation on its back. At seven to nine centimetres in length, it is a small gecko, slender and agile, with a stunning bright green body and white or pale yellow spots that are often arranged in star-like patterns. The belly is pale green to yellow, and the eyes are large and golden, with vertical pupils. A gecko that wears the stars.
This is a gecko of the manuka. The Nelson Green Gecko is found only in the Nelson 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 while its star-like spots catch the light.
Biologically, the Nelson 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 Nelson 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 Nelson Green Gecko is to see one of New Zealand's rarest and most beautiful reptiles. The Nelson scrub is green. The gecko basks on a manuka branch, bright green body with star-like white spots, golden eyes watching. The collector is looking. The gecko does not know it is rare. It does not know it is a target.
It just wants to bask in the sun. A living star, a flash of green and white in the Nelson scrub. Its survival depends on the protection of its habitat, the control of predators, the enforcement of laws against illegal collection. The gecko does not know that either.