rough-scaled gecko of Nelson and Marlborough scrub
- 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
- Native broadleaf forests, particularly beech and podocarp forests, and mānuka scrublands. Prefers dense vegetation for climbing and basking. Often found in the subcanopy.
- Range
- Found only in the southern North Island, particularly in the Tararua Range and southern Wairarapa. Also found in the Rimutaka and Aorangi Ranges.
- 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 distinctive appearance. Classified as At Risk - Declining, with a small and decreasing population.
- Population
- A distinctive green gecko found only in the southern North Island. The Rough Gecko has rough, granular scales (rudis means "rough") that give it a textured appearance. Its colouration varies from bright green to olive-green, often with pale yellow or white markings. It is a diurnal gecko, active during the day, and can often be seen basking on branches or leaves in native forests.
- Conservation Status
- At Risk - Declining
The textured jewel of the southern North Island. A gecko that feels as rough as it looks.
The Rough Gecko is defined by a skin that feels as rough as it looks. At seven to nine centimetres in length, it is a small gecko, with a stocky build and granular scales that give it a rough, textured appearance. Its colouration varies from bright green to olive-green, often with pale yellow or white markings, and the belly is pale green to yellow. A gecko that wears its texture on its skin.
This is a gecko of the deep forest. The Rough Gecko is found only in the southern North Island, in the Tararua, Rimutaka, and Aorangi ranges. It is a diurnal species, active during the day, and it basks on branches and leaves, its rough scales providing camouflage among the bark and foliage.
Biologically, the Rough 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 Rough Gecko is threatened by habitat loss, predation, and illegal collection. Its distinctive 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 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.