Harlequin gecko (Hoplodactylus rakiurae)

Description

What’s the World’s Favourite Species?

Harlequin gecko fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Harlequin gecko description

The rare harlequin gecko (Hoplodactylus rakiurae) is possibly the most distinctive of all known New Zealand geckos. Its body is marked with a complex herringbone pattern comprised of a network of grey and white lines, often with orange shadings ⁽²⁾. Its underside is less colourful, being grey-brown with green or brown mottling ⁽²⁾. The inside of the harlequin gecko’s mouth is dark greyish-blue on the roof and pink on the floor, and its tongue is dark grey-indigo ⁽²⁾. The tail is roughly the same length as the head and body combined ⁽²⁾.

Size

Head-body length: 5.3 - 7.1 cm ⁽²⁾

Harlequin gecko biology

The harlequin gecko is typical of most Hoplodactylus geckos in that it is primarily a nocturnal animal. However, it may also be found during the day basking in the sun ⁽²⁾. It spends its nights foraging in the undergrowth, searching for insect prey, and will also feed upon nectar from flowers ⁽⁶⁾.

Like the rest of the New Zealand geckos, the harlequin gecko gives birth to live young instead of laying eggs ⁽⁶⁾. Whilst information on reproduction in this species is scant, it is likely to be similar to other Hoplodactylus species, which give birth to one or two offspring each year ⁽⁷⁾.

Harlequin gecko range

The harlequin gecko is endemic to Stewart Island, located off the southern coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The main population is located on the southern half of this island ⁽⁴⁾. Living at 47 degrees south of the equator makes the harlequin gecko the southernmost gecko species in the world ⁽⁵⁾.

Harlequin gecko habitat

Found in wetlands, herbfields and shrublands, the harlequin gecko lives on the ground amongst foliage, at altitudes ranging from sea level to 500 metres above sea level ⁽²⁾.

Harlequin gecko status

The harlequin gecko is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾ and listed on Appendix III of CITES ⁽³⁾.

Harlequin gecko threats

Little is known about the threats directly faced by the harlequin gecko. However, like most reptiles native to New Zealand, it is probably susceptible to predation from invading mammals such as rats and cats ⁽⁸⁾. Habitat destruction is also another common threat shared by native species, as huge areas of forest have been cut down or burned to clear open areas for pasture ⁽⁶⁾.

Harlequin gecko conservation

Eradicating predatory mammals from New Zealand’s offshore islands is the primary method used to conserve harlequin gecko numbers, along with other species of geckos ⁽⁶⁾. Geckos can also be relocated to ‘safe islands’, islands where invasive species have been eradicated, to form new populations ⁽⁶⁾.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

Learn more about the conservation in New Zealand:

• Wildlife New Zealand:
  http://www.wildlife.org.nz/

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

This species information was authored as part of the ARKive and Universities Scheme.

Glossary

Endemic

A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.

Nocturnal

Active at night.

References

1. IUCN Red List (April, 2011)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. Department of Conservation. (2009) Electronic Atlas of the Amphibians and Reptiles of New Zealand. Department of Conservation, New Zealand.
3. CITES (March, 2010)
   http://www.cites.org
4. The New Zealand Herpetology Society (November, 2009)
   http://www.reptiles.org.nz/index.php?page=Rakiurae
5. Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand (November, 2009)
   http://www.teara.govt.nz
6. New Zealand Department of Conservation: Geckos (November, 2009)
   http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs/lizards/geckos
7. Hare, K.M. and Cree, A. (2005) Natural History of Hoplodactylus stephensi (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) on Stephens Island, Cook Strait, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 29(1): 137-142.
8. Hitchmough, R., Bull, L. and Cromarty, P. (2005) New Zealand Threat Classification System Lists. Science and Technical Publishing, Wellington.