gecko discovered high in the Southern Alps
- Size
- Length: 6–8 cm
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Diet
- Insectivorous - feeds on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. A nocturnal gecko that hides under rocks and bark during the day, emerging at night to hunt. Uses its specialised toe pads to climb smooth surfaces, including rocks and tree trunks.
- Habitat
- Alpine and subalpine grasslands, rocky outcrops, and scree slopes. Prefers habitats with plenty of rocks and crevices for shelter, and tussock for cover. Often found in the high country, where it basks on sun-warmed rocks at the edge of the snow.
- Range
- New Zealand - found throughout the South Island, particularly in the mountainous regions of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. Most common in the high country, where it lives among the rocks and tussock.
- Endemism
- Endemic
- Main Threats
- None significant - this species is common and widespread in the South Island high country. Localised threats include predation by introduced rats and cats, habitat loss from land development, and climate change. Classified as Not Threatened, with healthy populations throughout its range.
- Population
- A common gecko found in the high country of the South Island. The Southern Alps Gecko has grey to brown colouration with darker bands and spots, and a pale belly. It is a nocturnal gecko, hiding under rocks and bark during the day and emerging at night to hunt insects. Often found in rocky outcrops and scree slopes in the alpine zone.
- Conservation Status
- Not Threatened
The Southern Alps Gecko is the lizard of the high mountains, defined by a tolerance for cold and a love of the rocks. At six to eight centimetres in length, it is a small gecko, with grey to brown colouration and darker bands and spots that provide camouflage among the rocks. The belly is pale cream, and the eyes are large and dark, adapted for night vision.
This is a gecko of the snow line. The Southern Alps Gecko is found throughout the South Island high country, in alpine and subalpine grasslands, rocky outcrops, and scree slopes. It is a nocturnal species, hiding under rocks and bark during the day, emerging at night to hunt insects.
Biologically, the Southern Alps Gecko is a viviparous species, giving birth to live young. Females produce one or two offspring each year, a slow reproductive rate that is typical of New Zealand geckos. The young are born in late summer and are miniature versions of the adults, independent from birth.
The Southern Alps Gecko is not threatened. It is widespread and common in the South Island high country, with healthy populations throughout its range. But it is still vulnerable to predation by introduced rats and cats, and to habitat loss from land development and climate change.
To see a Southern Alps Gecko is to see a creature of the high mountains, a lizard that has adapted to the cold and the wind. Its banded pattern is a reminder of the layers of rock that make up the Southern Alps.