Jewelled Gecko

About the Jewelled Gecko

The jewelled gecko (Naultinus gemmeus) is a threatened species of lizard in the family Diplodactylidae. This gecko is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Subgroups or populations of the jewelled gecko living in Otago, Canterbury, and Southland can be distinguished by their colour and marking. Male Canterbury jewelled geckos tend to be grey or brown with yellow, purple and white rows of stripes or diamonds. Otago jewelled gecko populations are often green with yellow and white markings, and Southland jewelled geckos are usually solid green.

The jewelled gecko eats a wide variety of insects, such as moths and flies. It also eats berries and, more rarely, nectar. The jewelled gecko and other New Zealand geckos are highly protected and it is illegal to capture or disturb them. The jewelled gecko is often targeted by wildlife smugglers.

Naultinus gemmeus has a bright to olive green body with either stripes or a pattern of diamonds on its back, a pattern which has given the species its common name, and is an important identifying feature. Colours often seen in the stripes or diamond shapes are white, pale green, or yellow. Those colours are often outlined by black... Wikipedia →