NZ Gecko
Here in NZ we have over 44 species of geckos, some of which you can only find right here in Marlborough.
Including the very special Marlborough Green Gecko or manuka gecko,(Naultinus manukanus). Below are some fun facts that make our NZ Geckos special.
Gecko Facts
Spot a Gecko
There are a few ways you can spot the difference between a Gecko and a Skink. Gekco's have loose fitting skin when compared to a skink.
Geckos have broad heads with rounded snouts and large bulging eyes.
They also have soft velvety-looking skin, where a skinks skin is tight and shiny.
Climbing
Geckos have 'Sticky Feet" they have toe pads that are covered in 1000's of microscopic hairs called Setae.
These hairs create an electromagnetic attraction called van der Waals forces. This is what allows them to climb up walls and surfaces.
Food
New Zealand Geckos are omnivores, their main diet consists of insects such as moths, flies, small crickets, larvae, etc. However, they also eat some berries and the nectar of some flowers
Breeding
NZ Geckos are very slow breeders, they normally only breed once a year. Some species only breed once every two years.
One of the things that makes our NZ Geckos special is that they give birth to live young, not eggs. Most of our NZ Geckos only give birth to one off spring at a time, on occasion a Gecko might have twins.
Eyes
Geckos can not blink, they have transparent like eyelids that are are fused together. They have to lick their eyes with their spoon like tongue to keep them from drying out.
Can you reach your eyes with you tongue?
Tell us what you know -
Do you know another fantastic fact about NZ Geckos ??
We would love it if you would share it with us.
Email us your Gecko fact to :
Gecko Gallery
Images from some of our Gecko events
Gecko Activates
Here are some fun activates and resources you can explore at home with your whanau or friends. Some of these resources have been put together with the help of some our fantastic local organisations. A huge thank you to those people who have helped put these together for us, we appreciate your support.
Don't forget to share you activates with us, either tag us on social media or email them to us at conservationkid@envirohub.co.nz
Have fun and see if you can find all the different Marlborough Geckos
You can check your answers here
Click on the image to download a Gecko Habitat Colouring page, don't forget to share it with us once you are done
Department of Conservation
Toyota Kiwi Guardian Links
Toyota and the Department of Conservation have come together and created some really neat activates and adventures that you can take part in all around Aotearoa. Below are some links to some activates that you might be interested in.
Click the image to learn how you can make a Lizard lounge and attract Geckos to your backyard
Check out some of our CKNZ members making some lizard lounges at one of our events
Other Gecko Resources
Gecko themed books
These books can be found at most book shops and library's around NZ. You can also order them online.
Gecko, by Raymond Huber and
Brian Lovelock
GO Green Gecko, by Gay Hay and Margaret Tolland
Reptiles and Am[hibians of NZ, by Dyland van Winkel
Visit a Gecko
If you live in the Marlborough region, you can see some Geckos at these places below.
Click the logo to be taken to their websites.
