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]
| Takitimu gecko | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Diplodactylidae |
| Genus: | Mokopirirakau |
| Species: | M. cryptozoicus
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| Binomial name | |
| Mokopirirakau cryptozoicus (Jewell & Leschen, 2004)
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| Synonyms | |
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Physical characteristics
editTākitimu 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
editThe 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
editAs 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
editReferences
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