Tākitimu gecko
| Takitimu gecko | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Diplodactylidae |
| Genus: | Mokopirirakau |
| Species: | M. cryptozoicus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mokopirirakau cryptozoicus (Jewell & Leschen, 2004)
| |
| Synonyms | |
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The Tākitimu gecko (Mokopirirakau cryptozoicus) is an endemic species of gecko in the family Diplodactylidae found in the Southland region of New Zealand.[3] Tākitimu gecko were first described by Jewell and Leschen in 2004 as Hoplodactylus cryptozoicus.[4]
Physical characteristics
[edit]Tākitimu gecko are a medium sized gecko of up to 87mm snout-vent length and 18g weight.[5]
Colouring is grey on their upper surface, with pale herringbone markings, that extend down their tail. Some individuals have orange blotches and spots, other have purple-grey markings outlined in black.[5]
Distribution
[edit]The Tākitimu gecko is only found in the lower part of the South Island, including the Takitimu Mountains, Rees Valley, northern Richardson Mountains and the Waitutu Forest in South Fiordland.[5]
The overall population is estimated to be fewer than 10,000 individuals, scattered in pockets across the distribution range, ranging in elevation from 200m to 1150m.[6] They favour rocky outcrops, bluffs and scree, which is descriptive to their cryptozoicus 'hidden on the ground' species name, although they have also have been found in forests.[5]
Conservation status
[edit]As of 2021 the Department of Conservation (DOC) classified the Tākitimu gecko as Nationally Vulnerable under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[1][7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Hitchmough, Rod; Anderson, Peter; Barr, Ben; Monks, Jo; Lettink, Marieke; Reardon, James; Tocher, Mandy; Whitaker, Tony. "Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2012" (PDF). Department of Conservation. The Government of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ^ "CITES Appendices I, II and III". CITES. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ "Mokopirirakau cryptozoicus". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ JEWELL, TONY R.; LESCHEN, RICHARD A. B. (2004-12-24). "A new species of Hoplodactylus (Reptilia: Pygopodidae) from the Takitimu Mountains, South Island, New Zealand". Zootaxa. 792 (1): 1. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.792.1.1.
- ^ a b c d Winkel, Dylan van; Baling, Marleen; Hitchmough, Rod (2018-01-01). Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand. Auckland University Press. pp. 92–93. ISBN 978-1-86940-937-1.
- ^ Hitchmough, R.; van Winkel, D.; Lettink, M.; Chapple, D. (2019). "Mokopirirakau cryptozoicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T120188714A120192524. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T120188714A120192524.en. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ "Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2021". www.wikidata.org. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
External links
[edit]
- Image of holotype specimen for Mokopirirakau cryptozoicus
- Critter of the Week - Takatimu (sic) Gecko on RNZ, 10 December 2021