Atlas species information

Habitat

• Rock bluffs and associated rock outcrops with deep crevices in alpine areas about 1200-2200 m above sea level, in habitat commonly snow-bound for 3-5 months of the year.
• Terrestrial.
• Secretive, largely nocturnal but sun-basks at entrance to retreat.

Description

• Light to dark olive-grey with paler bands or chevron markings, and undersurface uniform grey.
• Eyes totally black.
• Mouth lining pink or orange, tongue pink to orange.
• Measures 75-91 mm from snout tip to vent.
• Tail equal or slightly longer than snout-vent length.

Distribution

• Mountainous areas of Nelson and Marlborough.
• Recorded from Mount Arthur and the Inland and Seaward Kaikoura Ranges.
• Distribution range overlaps that of forest gecko but isolated at higher altitude.
• Southern distribution limit unknown.
• The only alpine lizard in New Zealand, occurring up to 400 m higher than any other species.
• Usually sparse, difficult to detect.

Notes

• Moko-piri-rakau is the Maori name for forest gecko.
• Named after the Kahutara Saddle where the type specimens were found.
• Can forage at lower air temperatures than other lizards - as low as 6 degrees Celsius.
• Notes about 2008-10 cycle of NZ threat classification for Reptiles (Hitchmough et al 2010): Range could be much larger than currently known.
• Notes about 2012-14 cycle of NZ threat classification for Reptiles: (Hitchmough, et al.
• 2012): New records from Kahurangi (extends known range and habitat) and the Clarence Reserve (within known range).
• High altitude, large-bodied species, no evidence of decline based on resurvey of known sites, but inferred (conservatively) to be declining at 10% over 3 generations, which we estimated at 60 years.
• Fewer than 15 known sub-populations.