Fauna
Reptile

Marlborough Green Gecko

Naultinus manukanus

Also known as Manuka Gecko, Marlborough Sounds Green Gecko

Marlborough green geckos spend their days sun-basking amidst dense foliage in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. Unlike most geckos worldwide, these arboreal reptiles are strictly diurnal and give live birth to twins rather than laying eggs. Their vivid emerald coloration provides exquisite camouflage within mānuka and kānuka canopies, keeping them hidden from aerial predators.

DiurnalEndemicArboreal
Marlborough Green Gecko reference1 / 3
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EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMoths, Flies, Spiders
Predators
  • Rats
  • Stoats
  • Feral Cats
ThreatsIntroduced mammalian predators, habitat loss, illegal poaching
HabitatsCoastal scrub, mānuka and kānuka shrublands, native forest canopy
Life span30+ years
Classification
  1. FamilyDiplodactylidae
  2. SpeciesNaultinus manukanus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Bright emerald green gecko with fine pale markings, found high in shrubland foliage in the northern South Island.
Support conservation
Observe quietly from a distance without disturbing vegetation, and keep sighting locations strictly private.
Responsible observation
  • Visual Search: Scan sunny outer branches of mānuka trees on warm, calm mornings.
  • Minimal Disturbance: Keep a respectful distance, as shaking branches stresses the geckos.
  • Location Privacy: Never share precise location coordinates online to protect against poaching.
Related species
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