Scientists use tiny ‘backpacks’ to learn more about native geckos

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-06-14 03:00

New Zealand

Photo credit: Sara Smerdon

Scientists have put tiny ‘backpack’ radios on NZ’s recently-discovered northern striped gecko to find out more about where it lives. This native gecko is mostly known from just one population on the Coromandel Peninsula and was first properly described in only 2020. The radio tracking of 32 geckos over 3 months showed that they preferred to be near the edge of the forest on shrubs like gorse and mānuka. When resting, geckos sheltered under leaves on the floor near the forest edge, but when they ventured into the forest, they climbed up into the trees. The researchers said this meant geckos were often hidden by leaves or high up out of sight, meaning that the Coromandel forests might contain more populations of these geckos that have not yet been found.

News release

From:

Dr Jo Monks, Senior Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago (author of this research)

Te reo Māori:

"Kātahi anō ka puta ētahi rangahau hou e hāngai ana ki tētahi o ō Te Tara-o-te-ika-a-Māui taonga, ko te mokomoko ‘toropuku’. Nā Harriet Wills (Tainui) mā i puta ki te ao mārama. He mea whai e Harriet ngā mokomoko 32 ki te pūrere tuku irirangi e mākari ana i ngā marama e toru. Ka mutu, he whānui ake te whakamahinga o te nohoanga i tā mātou i whakaaro ai. Ko tō te mokomoko tino hiahia, te tapa ngahere me te taekai pururua.Me uaua ka kitea ēnei mokomoko i a Tamanuiterā e puta ana. Engari, mā ngā pūrere tuku irirangi e mākari ana, kua mōhio haere tātou, huna ai ēnei mokomoko i te paparanga otaota i ngā rā, engari kei te karamatamata hoki ētahi. Mā reira ka puta te whakaaro, he taupori mokomoko ‘toropuku’ i te Tara-o-te-ika-a-Māui kāore anō kia tūhuratia. Ko te tūmanako ia, he whaitake tēnei rangahau hei āta whakamahere me pēhea ēnei hapori mokomoko e aroturuki ai, hei whāomoomo hoki i tēnei momo onge."

English:

"New research has revealed important insights into the secretive northern striped gecko (Toropuku inexpectatus), one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most elusive reptiles.

Found only in the northern North Island and formally described as a species in 2020, the gecko is primarily known from just one closely monitored population on the Coromandel Peninsula. Using radio-tracking technology to follow 32 geckos over three months, we discovered that the species uses a much wider range of forest habitats than previously known. The geckos showed a preference for forest edges and dense shrub-like vegetation. During the day, geckos near forest edges sheltered under leaf litter on the ground, while those deeper in the forest spent time high in the canopy. We also found that standard night-time search methods are biased towards detecting geckos near forest edges, meaning many individuals in dense or elevated vegetation may be missed. Our findings suggest undiscovered populations could exist in remote Coromandel forests and will help improve future monitoring and conservation efforts for this rare and remarkable species."

Multimedia

Gecko photo 1 - backpack

Gecko photo 2 - fern

Gecko photo 3 - head

Gecko photo 4 - leaves

Gecko photo 5 - gecko on leaf

Journal/
conference: New Zealand Journal of Ecology

Organisation/s: University of Otago, Mahakirau Forest Sanctuary; Auckland Zoo

Funder: Auckland Zoo, University of Otago, the Society for Research of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Mahakirau Forest Estate Society Incorporated all contributed funding and support for the completion of this research.

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