Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand

The Fiordland skink, Oligosoma acrinasum, is a species of skink endemic to the Fiordland temperate forests ecoregion of South Island, New Zealand. The Fiordland skink is found on two mainland locations and the exposed rocky shores of numerous islands along the Fiordland coast (Patterson 2000). Their distribution has declined due to introduced predators (Molloy 1994). Currently it lives only on foreshore rocks and boulder beaches on the Fiordland coast. Despite these threats the species has managed... less ↑

The long-toed skink, Oligosoma longipes, is a species of skink of the family Scincidae, endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by Geoff Patterson in 1997. It is only known from a few sites in the South Island of New Zealand and little is known of its habits. It seems to prefer dry, rocky habitats, usually eroding stream terraces or scree slopes. It is diurnal and heliothermic. Maximum snout-vent length is about 70 mm. less ↑

The Open Bay Islands skink (or Open Bay Island skink), Oligosoma taumakae, is a species of skink. It was described from the Open Bay Islands, off the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. This species is diagnosed on the basis of several morphological characteristics, and its specific status is supported by mitochondrial sequence data (ND2, ND4). The new species appears to be most closely related to Oligosoma acrinasum, Oligosoma infrapunctatum, Oligosoma otagense and... less ↑

The Delicate Skink,Dark-flecked Garden Sun Skink or Garden Skink (Lampropholis delicata) is a skink of the subfamily Lygosominae, originally from Eastern Australia. In its native range and in New Zealand it is also known as the Rainbow Skink, which elsewhere usually refers to the African Trachylepis margaritifera, also a member of the Lygosominae. less ↑

The shore skink, Oligosoma smithii / Leiolopisma smithii, is a species of skink native to the north half of the North Island of New Zealand. The shore skink is always found near the shoreline and prefers open areas such as around driftwood at the high tide mark. It eats insects and probably anything that moves and fits in its mouth. It was named after Lt Alexander Smith who collected the original specimens in the 1840s. The... less ↑

The New Zealand striped skink, Oligosoma striatum, is a rare species of medium sized skink endemic to New Zealand. The specific epithet means "streaked".The habitat of this species is native forest; they are often found under fallen rotting logs in the bush or under those remaining in pasture after the forest has been cleared. They are at least partly arboreal and have been found in the forest canopy among epiphytes and also in standing dead trees. less ↑

Suter's skink, Oligosoma suteri, is the only native skink in New Zealand to lay eggs - hence its other common name, the egg-laying skink. The egg laying Australian rainbow skink also is present in some parts of New Zealand. O. suteri lives on northern offshore islands from the Three Kings Islands to the Alderman Islands where it inhabits the coastal region, often very close to the water. It is known to hunt for prey in rock... less ↑

The eastern long-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis), also known as the eastern snake-necked turtle, common snake-necked turtle or common long-necked turtle, has as its most distinctive feature its extremely long neck. In some cases, this turtle's neck can be as long as its carapace. It is a type of side-necked turtle, meaning that it bends its head sideways into its shell rather than pulling it directly back. less ↑

The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), also known as red-eared terrapin, is a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is a subspecies of the pond slider. It is the most popular pet turtle in the United States and is also popular as a pet in the rest of the world, as, among other factors, it is easy to maintain. It has, therefore, become the most commonly traded turtle in the world. It is native... less ↑

The jewelled gecko, Naultinus gemmeus, is a species of gecko endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. There are two main subgroups of jewelled geckos: those living in Otago and those living in Canterbury. There is also a small Southland population. One obvious difference is that some of the males of the Canterbury geckos are grey or brown with yellow, purple and white markings; whereas all Otago geckos are green with yellow and white markings.... less ↑

Duvaucel's gecko, Hoplodactylus duvaucelli, is a gecko found on predator-free offshore islands of New Zealand, including Great Barrier Island and a number of Cook Strait islands. A dead gecko was also found in Maungatautari in March 2010, probably indicating that it is not extinct from mainland New Zealand. Its total length is up to 300 mm (snout to vent up to 160 mm) weighing up to 120 grams, making it the largest living gecko in New... less ↑

The Marlborough green gecko, also known as the Manuka Gecko,Naultinus manukanus, is a small species of gecko endemic to New Zealand. It grows to a maximum of 70mm, and is green, with some individuals displaying gold markings. The underside of the gecko is a lighter green in females, and silvery in males. The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. less ↑

The green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea), also named the green bell frog, green and golden swamp frog and green frog, is a ground-dwelling tree frog native to eastern Australia. Despite its classification and climbing abilities, it does not live in trees and spends almost all of its time close to ground level. It can reach up to 11 cm (4.3 in) in length, making it one of Australia's largest frogs. less ↑

The growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), also commonly known as the southern bell frog, warty swamp frog and erroneously as the green frog is a species of ground-dwelling tree frog native to southeastern Australia, ranging from southern South Australia along the Murray River though Victoria to New South Wales, with populations through Tasmania. This species' common names vary between states; the name southern bell frog applies to New South Wales, growling grass frog in Victoria and... less ↑

Archey's frog, Leiopelma archeyi, is an archaic, rare frog that is native to New Zealand, one of only three (or four) extant species belonging to the taxonomic family Leiopelmatidae. It is named after Sir Gilbert Archey (1890–1974), the former Director of the Auckland Institute. It is found only in the Coromandel Peninsula and near Te Kuiti in the North Island of New Zealand. This species, along with others in the family, have changed little over the... less ↑

The brown tree frog or whistling tree frog, Litoria ewingii, is a species of tree frog native to most of southern Victoria, eastern South Australia, southern New South Wales — from about Ulladulla, though this species is reported to occur further north — throughout Tasmania, including Bass Strait Islands, where it is the most frequently encountered frog in that state. It has been introduced to New Zealand, where it can be locally abundant. less ↑

Hamilton's frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni) is a primitive frog native to New Zealand, one of only four extant species belonging to the taxonomic family Leiopelmatidae. The male remains with the eggs to protect them and allows the tadpoles to climb onto his back where they are kept moist. It is named after Harold Hamilton. The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. less ↑

The tuatara is a reptile that is endemic to New Zealand and which, though it resembles most lizards, is part of a distinct lineage, order Rhynchocephalia. The two species of tuatara are the only surviving members of its order, which flourished around 200 million years ago. Their most recent common ancestor with any other extant group is with the squamates (lizards and snakes). For this reason, tuatara are of great interest in the study of the... less ↑