Length: SVL up to 71mm, with the tail being equal to the body length

Weight: unknown

Description

A brilliantly camouflaged species of Woodworthia found amongst schist rock in Central Otago. Schist geckos typically have a brown, olive-brown, or grey dorsal surface with pale bands, blotches or stripes. Schist geckos have a very indistinct canthal stripe or no canthal stripe at all, unlike some other species of Woodworthia. This species has a pale, speckled, or uniform ventral surface. The mouth interior is is pink, with a pink tongue and grey tongue tip. Schist geckos possess brown, green-grey, or yellow eyes. The rostral scale is in contact or virtually in contact with the nostrils (van Winkel et al. 2018; Jewell 2008). 

Life expectancy

Unknown. Presumably long-lived like other Woodworthia (e.g. more than 25 years).

Distribution

This species is found in the Clutha Valley between Clyde and Beaumont, the southern Raggedy Range, Rough Ridge and in the lowland between these ranges.

Ecology and habitat

Schist geckos are a cathemeral, terrestrial species that is most active at night, and can often be found hunting on the surfaces of schist outcrops or amongst dense vegetation. Like other Otago Woodworthia, this species is highly gregarious and can often be found in large numbers in suitable retreats. Schist geckos are found in rocky areas dominated by schist, but can also be found in dry rocky shrubland, where they will seek refuged under loose pieces of rock (van Winkel et al. 2018; Jewell 2008). 

Social structure

Highly gregarious and can be found in high numbers within single retreat sites.

Breeding biology

Sexually mature at about four years. Reproduce annually, with young born in February.

Diet

Predominantly insectivorous, but may also feed on the fruits of small shrubs. 

Disease

Unknown.

Conservation strategy

This species is not being actively managed. 

Interesting notes

The Schist gecko gets its common name from the rock type that it is strongly associated with, whereas its TAG name refers to the rough geographic region it is found within - Central Otago.

Schist geckos are members of the 'common gecko' complex, a group of closely related species which are regionally distributed throughout New Zealand. Historically, most of these were considered a single highly-variable species - Hoplodactylus maculatus (the so called 'common gecko'). The 'common gecko' has now been separated into over ten different species.

The Schist gecko sits within the Southern clade of the Woodworthia complex, with the kawarau gecko (Woodworthia "Cromwell") being its closest relative within the group.

References

Hitchmough R (1997): A Systematic Revision of the New Zealand Gekkonidae. Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.

Hitchmough, R.A., Barr, B., Lettink, M., Monks, J., Reardon, J., Tocher, M., van Winkel, D., Rolfe, J. (2016). Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2015; New Zealand threat classification series 17. Wellington: New Zealand Department of Conservation.

Hitchmough, R., Barr, B., Knox, C., Lettink, M., Monks, J. M., Patterson, G. B., Reardon, J. T., van Winkel, D., Rolfe, J., & Michel, P. (2021). Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2021. New Zealand threat classification series 35. Wellington: New Zealand Department of Conversation.

Jewell, T. (2006). Identifying geckos in Otago. Science & Technical Pub., Department of Conservation.

Jewell, T. (2008). A photographic guide to reptiles and amphibians of New Zealand. Auckland: New Holland.

Nielsen, S. V., Bauer, A. M., Jackman, T. R., Hitchmough, R. A., & Daugherty, C. H. (2011). New Zealand geckos (Diplodactylidae): cryptic diversity in a post-Gondwanan lineage with trans-Tasman affinities. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 59(1), 1-22.

van Winkel, D., Baling, M., Hitchmough, R. 2018. Reptiles and amphibians of New Zealand – a field guide. Auckland university press, Auckland New Zealand.

Walker, S., Wilson, D. J., Norbury, G., Monks, A., & Tanentzap, A. J. (2014). Effects of secondary shrublands on bird, lizard and invertebrate faunas in a dryland landscape. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 242-256.