New Zealand: Land of the lizards
Tuesday, 17 July 2018
Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud, could also be mistaken for the land of the reptiles. New Zealand has more than 110 species of lizards found nowhere else in the world (endemic). This list continues to grow, as current information is being attained through DNA analysis along with new field discoveries.
Marlborough is home to a vast array of lizards ranging from one of the rarest, the Cook Strait striped gecko, to the more common South Marlborough grass skink.
Geckos can be distinguished by tiny scales giving their appearance of loose, soft velvety skin, whereas a skink's skin contains larger shiny scales that are tight on the body and smooth.
Their eyes differ too - skink's having small eyes and eyelids to blink with, while geckos boast a large translucent protective membrane which they keep clean with their tongue.
**READ MORE:
* How to attract lizards to your garden
* NZ's largest lizard released in Bay of Islands
* Lizard's disappearance went largely unnoticed**
Although there are differences, both types of lizards share common traits. As a defence mechanism both can shed their tails at the base, providing the precious milliseconds needed to escape before regenerating the appendage to fight another day.
With a variable climate, most species, such as the Marlborough green gecko have evolved to take advantage of our longer summer days and are active during the day (diurnal). In doing so, they have become masters of camouflage and avoiding unexpected predators.
Incredibly, all but one of our lizard species reproduce by giving birth to live young birth (ovoviviparous). The egg-laying skink (funnily enough) is the only one to lay eggs. Often producing twins, their body can regulate the temperature of their embryos more effectively over the colder months than if they were encased in an eggshell exposed to the elements.
Skinks are generally carnivorous, though are known to gulp down the odd berry, whereas geckos are omnivorous, which includes a diet of fleshy fruit and nectar from flowers. They play a vital role in our ecosystem processes such as seed dispersal and pollination across many of our native plant species, such as mānuka, kanuka, kawakawa and flax to name just a few.
Loss and fragmentation of their habitat and the threat of vast array of predators such as cats, hedgehogs, mice, rats, and stoats, are all leading to their decline. Poaching for private collections is also becoming an increasing threat, particularly in Europe.
Next time you see a rockpile or shrubby native bush, think about what importance it might hold to lizards. Look into attracting lizards to your garden by planting native species and make it safe by providing plenty of hiding spots. Laying chicken wire on top of a known lizard habitat can create a protective screen from cats, hedgehogs and possibly larger rats and birds.
If we are to enjoy and protect all our taonga species for future generations to come, we need everyone to take responsibility. It would be a lesser world without our scaly friends and indeed other flora and fauna species that are interdependent to one another.
More information can be found on DOC's website, containing relevant information, how to report a sighting and how-to guide in creating a lizard friendly garden: www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs/lizards/