New Zealand Journal of Ecology (2005) 29(1): 137- 142

©New Zealand Ecological Society

Natural history of Hoplodactylus stephensi (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) on Stephens Island, Cook Strait, New Zealand

Short Communication
Kelly M. Hare 1,*
Alison Cree 2
  1. School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
  2. Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
*  Corresponding author
Abstract: 

The striped gecko (Hoplodactylus stephensi) is one of the rarest and most elusive of New Zealand’s lizards. It is currently known from just three locations; Stephens Island (Takapourewa) in Cook Strait, Maud Island in Pelorus Sound, and the Coromandel Peninsula. The striped gecko is a relatively poorly studied species with little data available on many aspects of its biology. We report on the first estimate of longevity in H. stephensi (a minimum of 16 years) and provide baseline data on population structure, habitat use, morphometrics and pregnancy rate. Our data show the value of permanently marked populations of reptiles available for long-term study by different researchers.

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