Gecko on plant

Many of New Zealand's native animals are found nowhere else in the world. Apart from bats and marine mammals (such as seals and dolphins), New Zealand has no native mammals!  We do have lots of unique native fish, insects, birds, lizards and frogs.

We boast the world's only flightless parrot (the kakapo), and a bird with nostrils at the end of its beak (the kiwi), also flightless. Safe from predatory mammals, birds ran free on the ground and several species lost the use of their wings. A host of other animals have retained their ancient forms. Wingless crickets, known as weta, grew to take the place of mice in the food chain as they foraged on the forest floor, and a primitive frog bears live young.

Tuatara


Tuatara are rare, medium-sized reptiles (adults ranging from about 300g to 1000g) found only in New Zealand.

They are the only extant members of the Order Sphenodontia, which was well represented by many species during the age of the dinosaurs, some 200 million years ago. All species apart from the tuatara declined and eventually became extinct about 60 million years ago.

Tuatara are therefore of huge international interest to biologists and are also recognised internationally and within New Zealand as species in need of active conservation management.

Facts about tuatara


Tuatara once lived throughout the mainland of New Zealand but have survived in the wild only on 32 offshore islands. These islands are characteristically free of rodents and other introduced mammalian predators which are known to prey on eggs and young as well as compete for invertebrate food. The islands are usually occupied by colonies of breeding seabirds that contribute to the fertility and hence the richness of invertebrate and lizard fauna needed by tuatara.  

Recent advances in both the ability to eradicate rodents from islands and the captive incubation and raising of tuatara have allowed the species to be translocated to a further four islands they presumably inhabited in the past. 

Current taxonomy recognises two species of tuatara and one of these is considered to
comprise two subspecies. The northern tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus punctatus) is present on islands from the Bay of Plenty north and the Cook Strait tuatara (S. punctatus), an unnamed subspecies is present on Takapourewa (Stephens Island) and the Trio Islands in Marlborough Sounds. The other species is the Brothers Island tuatara (S. guntheri) known naturally from one small island in Marlborough Sounds
.

Threats to tuatara


There are three kinds of rats in New Zealand. The kiore have been here for at least 1000 years. These typially weigh about 100 grams and resemble large mice. Adult tuatara can co-exist with kiore but it seems that tuatara eventually die out where kiore are present.

Several clues suggest that the kiore may have been nest robbers - taking eggs as well as small hatchlings. Being slow breeders the tuatara cannot make up for losses. There were probably few, if any, tuarata left on the North and South Islands by the time European settlers arrived in New Zealand

The larger Norway rats weight up to 450 grams. Norway rats and ship rats (up to 200 grams) arrived in New Zealand with European visitors and settlers. These rats are nature's 'vandals', eating and destroying whatever is available, and becoming prolific breeders when food is plentiful.

Rats are considered the most serious threat to the survival of tuatara because they are easily transported as stowaways on boats and usually the first alien animals to arrive unnoticed in new places.

Islands with rats have few nocturnal invertebrates or reptiles. Even the rats have to rely on seeds, fruits and other plant material for food because there is little else. Mice are less devastating, but also damage natural communities by eating seeds and small insects that native reptiles and birds normally eat.

Communities of native plants and animals on the mainland suffer from the combined effects of many alien invaders - predators as well as weeds. Damage to vegetation by browsing animals such as possums, deer and goats is added to this.

Some of the natural variety of life which once occurred throughout New Zealand is preserved on tuatara islands. Sadly much of it has been lost forever.

Tuatara

New Zealand’s tuatara has been around since the time of the dinosaurs. Unfortunately, it is no longer found on the mainland, due to introduced predators. Watch this video to find out how the tuatara ‘headstart’ programme works.

Lizards



Lizards belong to the group of animals known as reptiles. This group includes crocodiles, turtles, snakes, tuatara and lizards. 

There are many different types of lizards in the world, but in New Zealand we only have geckos and skinks.

Attracting lizards to your garden

Lizards/kārara are an important yet often unseen part of our native biodiversity. Most people only realize they have lizards on their property when their cat brings one home! Lizards can thrive in suburban gardens and rural properties if their needs for food and shelter are met.  

Encouraging lizards

To encourage lizards into your garden you need a basic understanding of their needs, their behaviour, and then have plenty of patience before you will see them return. Learn about the species and create habitat that they love. It won’t take much effort, lizards love messy and untidy gardens!


Common gecko

Some lizards, especially Cyclodina species, are active at night and like moist humid sites and avoid hot dry north facing slopes where you’re more likely to find the Oligosoma species.

Lizards need places to hide. They need cover when hunting, feeding and resting and they need protection from predators and extremes of heat and cold. Create crevices and cover using natural objects or any non-toxic material (e.g., old building material, concrete, old roofing iron). The material isn’t important. It’s the retreat sites you’re creating - lizards like to squeeze into body sized holes and they like plenty of them.

Mown lawns, open paths and nicely weeded open flower beds are unsuitable for lizards. Many lizards are also territorial so create enough habitat for all the animals. Try not to disturb habitat too much, if they’re forced from their territory they may have no other place to go and will find it difficult to survive.

Chevron skink

The chevron skink is one of New Zealand's rarest lizards. It is listed internationally as 'nationally endangered'.  Less than 250 sightings have been reported since it was first described in 1906 and because of this, very little is known about where it lives or its way of life.

Facts about chevron skink

Chevron skink - close up of head. Great Barrier Island. Photo: John West.
Chevron skink - close up of head.
Great Barrier Island.

What is it?

The chevron skink is one of New Zealand's rarest lizards. It is listed internationally as 'nationally endangered'.  Less than 250 sightings have been reported since it was first described in 1906 and because of this, very little is known about where it lives or its way of life.

Chevron skink belongs to the genus Oligosoma (formerly Leiolopisma) members of which are only found in New Zealand. Its scientific name is Oligosoma homalonotum.

The species name homalonotum means smooth backed. The very distinctive v shaped markings on the back of the chevron skink give it its common name.  

  • They are New Zealand's longest lizard, measuring up to 30cm from the nose to the tip of the tail.
  • Dark bands extend down the face of the chevron skink from below the eye to just under the lower lip. Between these two bands is a distinctive pale coloured "teardrop" shape.
  • Chevron skinks are capable of making noises and will often grunt or squeak on being disturbed.
  • Female chevron skinks give birth to live young in mid to late summer, and can have up to 8 at once. It is not known if chevron skinks breed every year.
  • Most sightings of chevron skinks have been in close proximity to streams or other damp places. This has been due to their susceptibility to dehydration.

Lost for over 60 years

First scientifically described in 1906, the chevron skink was only reported twice more until the 1970s. It had essentially been "lost" for over 60 years. This was partly due to a mix up of museum labels that gave its locality as Flat Island in the Mokohinau Islands group. The label should have read Great Barrier Island.

Until the early 1990s the chevron skink was thought to survive only on Great Barrier Island.

Then in 1991 a single sub-adult chevron skink was discovered on neighbouring Little Barrier Island. Despite intensive surveys since then, no other chevron skink have been found on the island.

Threats to chevron skink

Chevron skink. Photo: Dick Veitch.
Chevron skink

Fight for survival

One of the reasons why the chevron skink has survived on Great and Little Barrier islands is due to these islands being free of certain introduced predators such as stoats, weasels and ferrets (mustelids) and Norway rats. Should any of these problem animals become established on these islands it would have disastrous consequences for the chevron skink.

Norway rat would be a particular threat to the skink as it prefers to live along water courses and in wet places. These are the same kinds of places where chevron skink have been found.

Like all other rodents in New Zealand, Norway rats are known to eat lizards. If the Norway rat managed to colonise on Great or Little Barrier Island the chevron skink would face a great threat of extinction.

Cyclodina skink

The Cyclodina group of lizards contains more rare species than any other group of New Zealand lizard.

Facts about cyclodina skink

Copper skink. Photo: Dick Veitch.
Copper skink

The Cyclodina group of lizards contains more rare species than any other group of New Zealand lizard. The group is also notable for containing the smallest indigenous skink - the copper skink (120mm) - and the largest - the 'presumed extinct' Northland skink (350mm).

Conservation status

The species contained in the Cyclodina group are listed below.

Not threatened

  • Copper skink

At risk

  • Poor Knights skink
  • Robust skink
  • McGregor's skink
  • Poor Knights marbled skink
  • Southern marbled skink
  • Mokohinau skink

Chronically threatened

  • Ornate skink

Acutely threatened

  • Whitaker's skink

Extinct

  • Northland skink

Population and range

All species are confined to the North Island and islands immediately offshore. The geographic range of these species has greatly declined since the arrival of humans in New Zealand

Otago skink and grand skink

The Otago skink and grand skink are two of New Zealand's most impressive lizards, and grow as long as 300 mm.

Facts

Grand skink. Photo: DOC.
Grand skink

The Otago skink (Oligosoma otagense) and grand skink (Oligosoma grande) are two of New Zealand's most impressive lizards, and can grow up to 300mm in length. They are unique to Otago, and are two of New Zealand's rarest reptiles.

Grand skinks are black with yellowish flecks, while Otago skinks are black with grey, green, or yellowish blotches. These cryptic colour patterns provide great camouflage, amid the lichen-covered  schist rocks they inhabit.

Once widespread in Central Otago, both skinks are now found in only 8% of their former range. They are regarded as 'vulnerable', and carry a 'Category A' priority for conservation action. A Department of Conservation Recovery Plan has been in place since 1995 and is now under review.

Ecology and habitat

Grand skinks are a little smaller then Otago skinks, but the two species are often considered together because they share similar habitat, distribution, and habits.Their diet is much the same too; both species feed on a wide variety of insects, fleshy fruits, and even smaller lizards.

Habitat: They live in highly specific habitats -secure, sheltered crevasses in large schist outcrops.

Striped skink

he distinctively marked striped skink is one of New Zealand's least known and rarely seen lizards.

Facts about striped skink

Striped skink on Little Barrier Island. Photo: Mike Aviss.
Striped skink on Little Barrier Island 

Mysterious reptile

The distinctively marked striped skink is one of New Zealand's least known and rarely seen lizards. The species is easily recognised by the pale stripes running down the length of its body, and makes for an eye-catching sight with its lightening quick movements.

The striped skink has carries a 'Category A' priority for conservation action under the Department of Conservation's species ranking system.
A Recovery Plan is currently in action, and emphasises the need for more monitoring and research. At this stage it is unclear whether the striped skink requires management to ensure its survival, or if it is even at risk.

Ecology and habitat

Lifespan: Growth rates and lifespan are unknown, but an adult in captivity has lived for over 20 years.
Diet: They mainly eat insects, but will also eat soft fruit.
Habitat: Striped skinks are found in lowland forest and pastoral farmland.
The striped skink climbs trees more readily than other lizards, and is known to live beneath flaking bark, and the crevasses in trunks and branches. They also dwell in logs and litter on the forest floor. On farmland they tend to live in rotting logs or rank vegetation. Striped Skinks have also been found in swampland

Population and range

Fewer than 120 striped skinks have ever been found.
They are presently known from around 40 widely scattered inland locations throughout the central and northern North Island.
They have also been found on Great Barrier and Little Barrier Island
.

Threats to striped skink

Striped Skink.
Striped Skink

Threats and causes of decline

Predators

  • Cats, mustelids, and rats pose a threat. However, it is believed the skink can cope with predators as long as sufficient habitat remains available.

Habitat depletion

  • This is the main threat to the species, especially as a result of agricultural development. Logs are removed or disintegrate, and there is often no forest left to replace them. There is usually a limited amount of habitat available on farmland, so skink populations tend to be small and isolated. Therefore they are vulnerable to local extinction.
  • The loss of indigenous forest from the North Island lowlands has led to the local extinction of many lizard populations. On a positive note, the destruction of indigenous forest habitat by logging and clear felling has reduced in recent years.




















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