Hoplodactylus
Encyclopedia
Hoplodactylus is a genus
of gecko
s endemic to New Zealand
. There are two genera of geckos found in New Zealand, both endemic, the other being Naultinus.
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 Naultinus genus - however, there are two exceptions, the Goldstripe gecko Hoplodactylus chrysosireticus and the Pacific gecko Hoplodactylus pacificus both have a very flighty disposition and will often shed their tails at the slightest provocation.
Many species of the Hoplodactylus genus also have toes that are broader and more expanded than their relatives in the Naultinus genus.
The key differences between New Zealand's two endemic gecko genera are summarised in the table below
*references used for this table;
s such as the Norway rat their range is at present restricted to pest-free offshore islands.
The extinct Kawekaweau/Delcourt's gecko Hoplodactylus delcourti was 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.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of gecko
Gecko
Geckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....
s endemic to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. There are two genera of geckos found in New Zealand, both endemic, the other being Naultinus.
Description
Species in this genus 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 (Hoplodactylus 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" (Hoplodactylus 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
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
, 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
Diurnal animal
Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...
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 Naultinus genus - however, there are two exceptions, the Goldstripe gecko Hoplodactylus chrysosireticus and the Pacific gecko Hoplodactylus pacificus both have a very flighty disposition and will often shed their tails at the slightest provocation.
Many species of the Hoplodactylus genus also have toes that are broader and more expanded than their relatives in the Naultinus genus.
The key differences between New Zealand's two endemic gecko genera are summarised in the table below
| Hoplodactylus | Naultinus |
|---|---|
| Mainly grey-brown | Mainly green |
| Nocturnal | Diurnal |
| Arboreal: on foliage | Terrestrial - sometimes on tree trunks |
| Active-prey-searching | Sit-and-wait predator |
| Fast moving | Slow moving |
| Can change intensity of skin colour | Skin colour intensity cannot be changed |
| Wide, non-prehensile tails - readily shed | Narrow, tapering prehensile tails - recluctantly shed |
| Wide toe pad to assist climbing smooth surfaces | Thin toe pads adapted for grapsing twigs and foliage |
Species
Hoplodactylus duvaucelii is the largest species of gecko remaining in New Zealand although due to predation by introduced mammalMammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s such as the Norway rat their range is at present restricted to pest-free offshore islands.
The extinct Kawekaweau/Delcourt's gecko Hoplodactylus delcourti was 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.
Species list
- Gold-striped geckoGold-striped geckoThe gold-striped gecko, Hoplodactylus chrysosireticus, is a species of gecko in the Gekkonidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.-References:...
, Hoplodactylus chrysosireticus - †KawekaweauKawekaweauThe Kawekaweau or Delcourt's Giant Gecko, Hoplodactylus delcourti, was by far the largest of all geckos with a snout to vent length of 370 mm and an overall length of at least 600 mm. It was endemic to New Zealand and is now believed to be extinct...
, Hoplodactylus delcourti (extinct) - Duvaucel's gecko, Hoplodactylus duvaucelii
- Forest geckoForest geckoThe forest gecko, Hoplodactylus granulatus, is a species of gecko in the family Gekkonidae. Granulatus refers to the granular texture of the skin. It is endemic to New Zealand, found in all areas except the Far North, Marlborough, and Canterbury....
, Hoplodactylus granulatus - Black-eyed geckoBlack-eyed geckoThe black-eyed gecko, Hoplodactylus kahutarae, is a species of alpine gecko endemic to New Zealand. The specific epithet, "kahutarae", is taken from "Kahutara saddle", the locale where the type specimen was found. The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.The...
, Hoplodactylus kahutarae - Common gecko, Hoplodactylus maculatus
- Cloudy geckoCloudy geckoThe cloudy gecko, Hoplodactylus nebulosus, is a species of gecko in the family Gekkonidae that is endemic to New Zealand.-References:* at the New Zealand Herpetological Society...
, Hoplodactylus nebulosus - Pacific geckoPacific geckoHoplodactylus pacificus, the Pacific gecko or Pacific sticky-toed gecko, is a species in the family Gekkonidae, endemic to the North Island and offshore islands of New Zealand.-References:* * * *...
, Hoplodactylus pacificus - Harlequin geckoHarlequin geckoThe Harlequin gecko, Hoplodactylus rakiurae, is a species of gecko endemic to Stewart Island/Rakiura in the far south of New Zealand where they were discovered in 1969. In terms of distribution they are one of the southernmost gecko species in the world....
, Hoplodactylus rakiurae - Stephen's Island geckoStephen's Island geckoThe Stephen's Island gecko, Hoplodactylus stephensi, is a species of gecko in the Gekkonidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.-References:...
, Hoplodactylus stephensi - Takitimu geckoTakitimu geckoThe Takitimu gecko, Hoplodactylus cryptozoicus, is a species of gecko in the family Gekkonidae.-References:*...
, Hoplodactylus cryptozoicus