Takitimu gecko
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| Takitimu gecko | ||||||||||||||
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| Hoplodactylus cryptozoicus Jewell and Leschen, 2004 |
The Takitimu gecko, Hoplodactylus cryptozoicus, is a species of gecko in the family Gekkonidae.
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[edit] Distribution
The Takitimu gecko is endemic to New Zealand, found only in the Takitimu Mountains in the South Island.
[edit] Description
The Takitimu gecko is most similar to the Stewart Island species Hoplodactylus nebulosus and the more widespread forest gecko, Hoplodactylus granulatus, by the sharing of similar coloration and the presence of orange or yellow mouth lining.
The tongue is pink. The tail is shorter than the snout to vent length. The body scales are minute (average length 0.002 x SVL). Colour pattern is grey with variable markings involving an overall herringboned pattern, often decorated with (or replaced by) irregular orange patches.
Length is up to 87 mm, snout to vent.
[edit] Ecology
Nocturnal, hiding during the day, and rarely seen basking.
[edit] Etymology
The name cryptozoicus, masculine and used as an adjective, is derived from a combination of the Greek words kryptos (hidden) and zoikos (living), referring to the subsurface scree habitat.
