Kawarau gecko

Woodworthia “Cromwell”

At Risk - Declining

 

The Kawarau gecko Woodworthia “Cromwell” is a locally endemic lizard found only in the dry, rocky vistas of Otago. 

Quick Facts:

  • Body length (snout-to-vent) up to 78 mm
  • These humble ‘woodies’ are painted with shades of brown or grey, often with contrasting blotches or longitudinal stripes
  • Kawarau geckos typically inhabit complex rock piles and outcrops. They also occupy flaxes (Phormium), shrubs, and the wilted fronds of tī kōuka/cabbage trees (Cordyline australis) — particularly in areas with few mammalian predators

Protecting the Kawarau gecko means preserving schist-rock outcrops and rocky shrubland habitats. In these ecosystems, Kawarau geckos can number in the thousands! Supressing mammalian predators, including mice, will help these geckos too. We’re working closely with the community in the hopes of protecting at least one population of these precious taoka.

Back to: Biodiversity | Lizards

Kawarau gecko ©️Samuel Purdie

Where they’re found

Kawarau geckos lurk amongst the rocky crevices of Wānaka, Cromwell, and the eastern reaches of Queenstown. Their distribution overlaps with the Southern Alps gecko (W. “Southern Alps”) and likely the mountain beech gecko too (W. “south-western”).