It feels as rough as it looks. Naultinus rudis is defined by a skin that feels as rough as it looks. At seven to nine centimetres in length, it is a small gecko. Stocky build and granular scales give it a rough, textured appearance. Colouration varies from bright green to olive-green. Often with pale yellow or white markings. Belly is pale green to yellow. A gecko that wears its texture on its skin. This is a gecko of the deep forest. Found only in the southern North Island, in the Tararua, Rimutaka, and Aorangi ranges. A diurnal species, active during the day. It basks on branches and leaves, its rough scales providing camouflage among bark and foliage. Often found in subcanopy. Confined to southern North Island ranges. Biologically, the Rough 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. Threatened by habitat loss, predation, and illegal collection. Distinctive appearance makes it a target for pet trade. Collectors remove individuals from wild, further reducing already small populations. Land development and vegetation clearance are primary threats. Introduced rats, cats, and stoats prey on adults and young. Classified as At Risk - Declining. To see a Rough Gecko is to see one of New Zealand's rarest and most distinctive reptiles. The Tararua forest is deep. The gecko basks on a branch, rough scales green and gold, 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. The forest is its home. It has nowhere else to go.