Hoplodactylus

''Hoplodactylus'' is a genus of geckos in the family Diplodactylidae. The genus is endemic to New Zealand, one of the seven genera of geckos found only in New Zealand. ''Hoplodactylus'' comprises two species of large to gigantic brownish lizards.

Description

Species in this genus (now split into several genera) tend to have rather dull colouration with little variation on a generally brown/grey theme, although mottled greens are seen in some species, notably the forest gecko (''Mokopirirakau granulatus''). The one exception to this rule of general drabness in colouration is the striking "herring boned" colour pattern of green, brown, black and white that is displayed by the "Harlequin Gecko" (''Tukutuku rakiurae'').

Although generally species of this genus cannot compete with those of ''Naultinus'' in terms of their vivid and beautiful colouration, ''Hoplodactylus'' species do have the ability to subtly change their skin colour pattern to give better camouflage, thus reducing the risk of predation. "In some of the Hoplodactylus species, the ability to change colour provides a supplementary method of thermoregulation"(*1). When basking in cold conditions they can darken their skin to increase the amount of heat absorbed and conversely they can lighten the shades in hot weather to reflect more light and keep cool. All species in this genus have more or less nocturnal activity patterns in contrast to the solely diurnal nature of ''Naultinus'' species and unlike species in the latter genus, are not purely arboreal and will forage on the ground.

''Hoplodactylus'' species do not have ''prehensile'' tails and are thus generally less reluctant to drop them when disturbed by predators than species in the genus ''Naultinus''.

Many species of the genus ''Hoplodactylus'' also have toes that are broader and more expanded than do their relatives in the genus ''Naultinus''.

The key differences between New Zealand's two endemic gecko genera are summarised in the table below

*references used for this table;Gibbs, George (2006). ''Ghosts of Gondwana; The History of Life in New Zealand''. Nelson, New Zealand: Craig Potton Publishing. 232 pp. .Gill, Brian; Whitaker, Tony (1996). ''New Zealand Frogs and Reptiles''. Auckland: David Bateman Publishing. 112 pp. .

Species

''Hoplodactylus duvaucelii'' is the largest species of gecko remaining in New Zealand, although due to predation by introduced mammals such as the brown rat their confirmed range is at present largely restricted to pest-free offshore islands. However, in 2010 a Duvaucel's gecko was caught in a trap near Maungatautari, indicating that there are remnant populations on the New Zealand mainland. In 2023, the population of Hoplodactylus from islands in Cook Strait was determined to be a distinct species, ''Hoplodactylus tohu'', which is believed to have formerly had a range across the South Island.

The extinct ''Hoplodactylus delcourti'' is the largest known gecko in the world. It was first described in 1986, though the only known specimen was collected in the early 19th century but was overlooked in a French museum for more than a century. However, it was later shown by genetic evidence to be nested within New Caledonian geckos, warranting its placement in the separate genus ''Gigarcanum,'' meaning that it is unlikely that the specimen originated in New Zealand, and thus was probably not the kawekaweau of Maori legend.

Species list

* Duvaucel's gecko, ''Hoplodactylus duvaucelii''
* Te mokomoko a Tohu, ''Hoplodactylus tohu''

References

Further reading

* Fitzinger L (1843). ''Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae''. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (''Hoplodactylus'', new genus, p. 100). (in Latin).
* ''New Zealand Geckos; A guide to captive maintenance and breeding'', RPV Rowlands, Ecoprint, 1999.

External links

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Endemic reptiles of New Zealand
Lizard genera
Taxa named by Leopold Fitzinger