Please note that the majority of lizard species in New Zealand are threatened, and the Wildlife Act (1953) prohibits their capture. Please do not disturb them or their habitat.

Lizards are reptiles; cold-blooded, air-breathing vertebrates. The term reptile includes creatures such as snakes, alligators, lizards, turtles, and tuatara. Iguanas, salamanders, newts, and chameleons are all lizards.

Tuatara were already present when New Zealand broke away from Gondwana land and drifted into the Southern Ocean. Lizards came to New Zealand later, probably by ‘rafting’ on flotsam.

Gondwana: The super-continent that existed over 200 million years ago. This giant landmass was made up of the continents that are known today as South America, Africa, India, Australia and Antarctica.

New Zealand’s lizards are made up of two families; Skinks and Geckos.

Geckos: Have textured, granular looking skin, large eyes that do not blink and a triangular shaped head, similar to an alligators. They are omnivorous and will eat anything - including insects, fruit and other plant material. An unusual feature of NZ geckos is that they give birth to live young (usually twins), rather than laying eggs.

New Zealand geckos are divided into two genera; Hoplodactylus and Naultinus. Hoplodactylus are generally grey-brown in colour and nocturnal (active at night). They have a wide toe base for vertical climbing, and are able to change their skin from a pale colour to a darker shade.

Naultinus species usually have a characteristic bright green colouration and are active during the day. These geckos are avid tree climbers and their slender toes help them manoeuvre through the foliage.

Both genera of gecko are able to shed their tails when threatened by a predator, however the green gecko is less willing to do this, as it frequently uses its tail when climbing.

Skinks: Skinks more closely resemble a snake than geckos do. They have a sleek head, small eyes, overlapping scales like a fish and moveable eyelids which allow them to blink.

Within New Zealand there are two native genera (groups) of skink, Oligosoma and Cyclodina. In general, Cyclodina prefer shadier habitat and are active at dawn, dusk and night, while Oligosoma like open habitats and are active during the day. Both genus feed on arthropods (insects and spiders) and usually give birth to live young. One exception is Oligisoma suteri which lays eggs, as well as the non-native skink (Lampropholis delicata).

Like other lizards, skinks are able to shed their tails, but the tail is never able to reach the same length and the pattern and colour will differ from that of the original tail.

Copper skinks are the smallest in the Cyclodina family. They can be confused with Cyclodina ornata, the ornate skink, but are identified by the coppery coloured stripes that run down their body from snout to vent. Their belly is unspotted, and can vary from a creamy colour to a yellow-green. It is usually darker than their throat, which can have a number of black spots.

On Maungatautari, Copper skinks have been found mostly in pastures with downed logs and rocks to act as ground cover, but are also known to live in the forest. They can also be seen in urban gardens.