Lizards

Tawa Bush Reserve Lizards

With over 90 endemic species, lizards are an overlooked but important part of New Zealand’s biodiversity. New Zealand’s lizard fauna comprises two groups: skinks and geckos. Many lizards are threatened and declining due to loss of habitat and predation.

It is illegal to handle or disturb lizards without a permit from the Department of Conservation.

At least one species of skink and gecko have been recorded in the Wellington region:

Northern grass skink Oligosoma polychroma

Ngahere gecko Mokopirirakau ‘Southern North Island’

-Our thanks to Stephen Challands for many photo’s and this information

Skinks

Northern grass skinks are relatively small, fast moving, ground dwelling animals, with light or dark brown skin. This is a relatively common species which inhabits open, sunny locations within some of the Tawa Bush Reserves. It has a widespread but patchy occurrence within gardens and “wastelands” in Tawa.

Geckos

Geckos come in a range of colours from light brown to bright green. They have loose looking skin and large eyes which do not blink.

Ngahere gecko

The Ngahere gecko, sometimes called the Southern North Island Forest gecko, lives in older forests and remnant stands and less usually in secondary bush. They spend the majority of their lives high in the forest canopy. This coupled with the fact they are mainly active at night mean they are rarely seen. They are up to a hand length long (including tail)

– photo credit: Joel Knight