Dactylocnemis

Image attribution: Pacific gecko (Dactylocnemis pacificus). © Nick Harker

The genus Dactylocnemis are a closely related group of geckos which are confined to the North Island of New Zealand. They are regionally distributed (including several island-endemic species), and were once all considered as a single highly-variable species - Hoplodactylus pacificus.  The Pacific gecko, being the earliest described species in the genus has retained the specific name pacificus. Subsequently, five other species have been identified and given 'tag' names while they await formal description.

Below is a table compiled in order to more easily compare and contrast features of the various Dactylocnemis species.

Species

Colouration

Distribution

Mouth

Eyes

Feet

Size

Three Kings Gecko - D. ‘Three Kings’

Dorsal surfaces vary from light grey through to dark brown, often with lighter coloured blotching or stripes running the length of the body. May have mustard patch on the nape of the neck. Ventral surfaces are a uniform grey or cream.

Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands. North of Cape Reinga.

Mouth and tongue pink.

Shades of orange through to dark brown.

15-16 lamellae.

≤ 100mm SVL.

Te Paki Gecko – D. ‘North Cape’

Dorsal surfaces are typically dark brown, with light grey to light brown blotching or striping running the length of the body. May have mustard patch on the nape of the neck. Ventral surfaces are grey or cream with or without darker speckling.

Seemingly restricted to the northern Aupouri Peninsula, particularly the Te Paki region.

Mouth and tongue pink.

Typically shades of orange, but can range through to dark brown.

10-12 lamellae.

≤ 85mm SVL.

Matapia Gecko - D. ‘Matapia Island’

Dorsal surfaces vary from light grey through to dark brown, often with lighter coloured blotching or stripes running the length of the body. May have mustard or orange patch on the nape of the neck. Ventral surfaces are a uniform grey or cream

Known from North Cape through to the Karikari Peninsula, occupies many of the islands in this region.

Mouth pink, tongue has a dark blackish tip

Shades of orange through to dark brown.

8-15 lamellae.

≤ 60mm SVL

Pacific Gecko - D. pacificus 

Dorsal surfaces vary from light grey through to dark brown, and can be yellowish, often with lighter coloured blotching or stripes running the length of the body. May have mustard or orange patch on the nape of the neck. Ventral surfaces are a uniform grey or cream

Upper North Island from at least Whangarei through to the East Cape and Taranaki in the South.

Mouth and tongue pink.

Shades of orange through to dark brown.

10-16 lamellae.

≤ 80mm SVL

Poor Knights Gecko - D. ‘Poor Knights’

Dorsal surfaces vary from light grey through to dark brown, often with lighter coloured blotching or stripes running the length of the body. May have mustard patch on the nape of the neck. Ventral surfaces are a uniform grey or cream

Poor Knights Islands off of eastern Northland.

Mouth and tongue pink.

Shades of orange through to dark brown.

11-16 lamellae.

≤ 95mm SVL

Mokohinau Gecko – D. ’Mokohinaus’

Dorsal surfaces vary from light grey through to dark brown, and can be yellowish, often with lighter coloured blotching or stripes running the length of the body. May have mustard or orange patch on the nape of the neck. Ventral surfaces are grey or cream with or without darker speckling.

The Mokohinau Islands in the outer Hauraki Gulf.

Mouth and tongue pink.

Shades of orange through to dark brown.

10-14 lamellae.

≤ 90mm SVL