Gecko are elusive and elegant.
I’ve been geeking out on gecko these past months as I work towards an exhibition.

Peninsula to Plains
Te Huanui Gallery – Darfield
You are welcome to the opening night:
Friday Sept 27th, 2024 6.30 pm.
Open Sept 28 to Oct 24.

Five Banks Peninsula Artists: Sarah Ford, Jennifer Maxwell, Janie Porter, Frances Malcom and myself.

What a thrill when walking in the bush and we come face to face with a gecko!

For those of us who like to geek out on facts and figures…

There are 48 species of Gecko in Aotearoa/NZ.
They are grouped into seven genera. (Genera are species with similar characteristics.)

Duvaucel’s gecko (Hoplodactylus) – are the largest genera with 2 species
These are the largest living gecko in New Zealand and one of the biggest in the world.
They can grow to 160 mm in length, and weigh up to 120 g.

There are also:
* 9 species of green gecko (Naultinus) 
* 13 species of forest gecko (Mokopiriraku)
* 2 species of striped gecko (Toropuku)
* 6 species of Pacific gecko (Dactylocnemis)
* 14 species of grey/brown gecko (Woodworthia)
 and
*only 1 species of Harlequin gecko (Tukutuku)

Here on Banks Peninsula where I live and work, there are three gecko species
…the Canterbury Gecko (Hoplodactylus aff.maculatus)
…the Jewelled Gecko (Naultinus gemmeus)
…the Forest Gecko (Hoplodactylus granulatus)

The forest gecko is extremely rare and nocturnal so it is unlikely to be seen, but sharp-eyed walkers can see both the Canterbury and Jeweled Gecko in some bush area of our Peninsula.

Some Fun Gecko Facts…
Gecko love to sunbath. They are ectothermic, which means they need environmental heat sources to generate energy.

Many gecko ‘bark’ or make a ‘chirping’ sound.

Gecko have broad heads with rounded snouts, large bulging eyes, defined necks, and soft, velvety-looking skin. Their skin is covered with small, granular scales.

Many gecko toes are covered with microscopic hairs, so they can climb smooth surfaces and walk upside down.
You can often see where the gecko have been as they shed their skins and leave white gossamer thin skins. This shedding is to accommodate their growth, unlike people, their skin does not grow with them.

Gecko can be long lived, some as long as 50 years in the wild. However, they breed slowly, producing one or two young a year, although some only breed every second year. In Aotearoa/NZ gecko birth young rather than laying eggs as gecko in other parts of the world do.

New Zealand gecko are omnivores. If you catch them eating, you might see them eating insects like moths and flies, which are their main food. But they also enjoy the berries and nectar of some plants and flowers.

Green gecko (Naultinus species) can be found in native scrub and forest during the day.
Brown gecko (Hoplodactylus species) can often be found around old buildings, in woodpiles, and under roofing iron, concrete blocks or timber. They are usually active at night.

Threats to our Gecko
Our gorgeous gecko are under threat from habitat loss and predation by introduced mammals.
An interesting fact about gecko is their ability to self amputate their tails so that they can escape predators. The detached tail continues to wiggle, giving the gecko a chance to get away while the predator is still focused on the tail.
One threat to our gecko are smugglers removing them from the wild here in Aotearoa and selling them overseas. If you see suspicious activity report it with a vehicle license plate to 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

Attracting Gecko to your garden
Lizards (Gecko and Skink) love to hide in small spaces.
If you want to attract lizards to your garden check out this information.
The more of us who make happy homes for these critters the better for them.

If you are interested in any of this art, contact me.