The korowai gecko (''Woodworthia korowai''), also known as the Muriwai gecko, is a

gecko Geckos are small, mostly carnivorous lizards that have a wide distribution, found on every continent except Antarctica. Belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, geckos are found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from . Geckos ar ...

found on the west coast of the

Auckland Region Auckland () is one of the sixteen regions of New Zealand, which takes its name from the eponymous urban area. The region encompasses the Auckland Metropolitan Area, smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Containing ...

of New Zealand. First discovered on

Oaia Island Oaia Island is an island on the west coast of the Auckland Region, New Zealand, near Muriwai. Home to an Australasian gannet colony, the island was traditionally used as a seasonal food resource for Tāmaki Māori iwi, including Te Kawerau ā M ...

in 1954, the species was recognised as distinct from ''

Woodworthia maculata ''Woodworthia maculata'', also known as the New Zealand common gecko or Raukawa gecko, is a species in the family Diplodactylidae. The specific name ''maculata'' means "speckled".''New Zealand Frogs and Reptiles'', Brian Gill and Tony Whitaker, D ...

'' in 2016, and was formally described in 2023. Only 32 individuals are known to exist as of 2023, all within a very restricted range, on Te Korowai-o-Te-Tonga Peninsula, Muriwai Beach, Muriwai Regional Park and Oaia Island.

Taxonomy

''Woodworthia'' geckoes were first identified as living on the west coast of the Auckland Region in 1954 when geckoes were found living on

; then identified as ''Woodworthia maculata''. The korowai gecko was first recognised as a distinct species in 2016. It was formally described in 2023, by herpetologists Dylan van Winkel, Sarah Jane Wells, Nicholas Harker and Rod Hitchmough, based on morphological and genetic differences. The species name was given by

Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara is a Māori iwi and hapū of New Zealand, which is part of Ngāti Whātua. See also *List of Māori iwi This is a list of iwi (New Zealand Māori tribes). List of iwi This list includes groups recognised as iwi (tribe ...

, who named the species after their habitat, Te Korowai-o-Te-Tonga Peninsula, and after (traditional cloaks), as their striped patterns are reminiscent of some traditional patterns seen on . The species is most closely related to ''

'', and is distinct morphologically and genetically. The scientists who described the korowai gecko estimate the two species diverged in the mid to late Pliocene era. Before the species was formally described, it was referred to as the Muriwai gecko, and in scientific texts ''Woodworthia'' aff. ''maculata'' "Muriwai". The holotype was collected by Stephen Thorpe in 2003, and is stored at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. This holotype was originally identified as ''Woodworthia maculata''.

Description

The korowai gecko is a grey or sandy brown colour, and has an inverted "v" marking between its eyes, and have lighter stripes on the back halves of their bodies. The species grows to a length of up to from its nose to the base of its tail. The korowai gecko can be distinguished from ''

Dactylocnemis pacificus ''Dactylocnemis pacificus'', the Pacific gecko or Pacific sticky-toed gecko, is a species in the family Gekkonidae, endemic to the North Island The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Z ...

'' due to separation of the nostrils and rostral scale, and from ''Woodworthia maculata'' due to having shorter final sections of their legs ( distal phalanges).

Geographic distribution and habitat

As of 2023, only 32 individuals are known to exist, and the species is exclusively found on the west coast of the

, New Zealand, at Te Korowai-o-Te-Tonga Peninsula, Muriwai Beach, in Muriwai Regional Park and on Oaia Island. Korowai gecko primarily live in sand dunes.

Auckland Council Auckland Council ( mi, Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau) is the local government council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority that has the responsibilities, duties and powers of a regional council and so is ...

senior ecologist Melinda Rixon is concerned that

off-road Off-roading is the activity of driving or riding in a vehicle on unpaved surfaces such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain. Types of off-roading range in intensity, from leisure drives with unmodified vehicl ...

vehicle access in the gecko's habitat on Muriwai Beach may be adversely affecting the species. The species is exclusively found on the west coast of the

North Island The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-largest ...

, while ''Woodworthia maculata'' is found on the east coast. The two coastal species are likely separated geographically by the

Pacific gecko ''Dactylocnemis pacificus'', the Pacific gecko or Pacific sticky-toed gecko, is a species in the family Gekkonidae, endemic to the North Island and offshore islands of New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the ...

, whose range is primarily inland.

Ecology and conservation

The species is nocturnal. As of 2021 the Department of Conservation (DOC) classified the korowai gecko as Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable under the

New Zealand Threat Classification System The New Zealand Threat Classification System is used by the Department of Conservation to assess conservation priorities of species in New Zealand. The system was developed because the IUCN Red List, a similar conservation status system, had some ...

Gallery

Woodworthia korowai scales.jpg, ''Woodworthia korowai'' scales found at Muriwai Beach at the base of coastal toetoe (''

Austroderia splendens ''Austroderia'' is a genus of five species of tall grasses native to New Zealand, commonly known as toetoe.

'') Woodworthia korowai LH2445 005MM.jpg, Holotype of the korowai gecko from Auckland War Memorial Museum Woodworthia korowai LH2445 002MM.jpg, Holotype of the korowai gecko from Auckland War Memorial Museum Woodworthia korowai LH2445 003MM.jpg, Underside view of the holotype of the korowai gecko from Auckland War Memorial Museum

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q124307511 Endemic reptiles of New Zealand Reptiles described in 2023 West Auckland, New Zealand Woodworthia Endemic biota of the Auckland Region, New Zealand