Cupola gecko | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Diplodactylidae |
Genus: | Mokopirirakau |
Species: | M. "cupola"
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Binomial name | |
Mokopirirakau "cupola" |
The Cupola gecko (Mokopirirakau "cupola") is a species of gecko. Cupola is not its official scientific name; it is yet to be authorised as a separate species, and this term, named after the Cupola Basin in the Nelson Lakes National Park where it was first discovered, is used as a placeholder. [1] It is endemic to New Zealand. It has only been confirmed to be present in two places, the Cupola Basin in the Nelson Lakes National Park, [1] and the Sabine Valley. [1]
In March 2021, 53 years after the first sighting, and 14 years after the last confirmed sighting, four cupola geckos, including a pregnant female, were found in the Sabine Valley in an expedition headed by herpetologist Ben Barr. [2]
Very few recorded specimens of the Cupola gecko exist. [3] It is similar in appearance to other forest geckos, having a grey-brown colour with dark W- or V-shaped bands or blotches. [3] It differs from other related species in that it has a shorter snout and a triangular shaped head with V-shaped markings. [2] It has a speckled undersurface, a bright orange mouth lining, and grey/brown eyes. [4] The sizes of adult specimens are unknown, but probably measure around 70-85mm. [4] Juveniles are dark grey-brown with grey chevron markings and scattered spots of mustard yellow. [4]
The Cupola gecko is only known to exist in the Cupola Basin and the Sabine Valley. The first Cupola Basin specimen was found in a scrubby boulder field not far above the Cupola Basin hut. [4]
The Department of Conservation classifies the Cupola gecko as Data Deficient under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. [4]
Cupola gecko | |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Diplodactylidae |
Genus: | Mokopirirakau |
Species: | M. "cupola"
|
Binomial name | |
Mokopirirakau "cupola" |
The Cupola gecko (Mokopirirakau "cupola") is a species of gecko. Cupola is not its official scientific name; it is yet to be authorised as a separate species, and this term, named after the Cupola Basin in the Nelson Lakes National Park where it was first discovered, is used as a placeholder. [1] It is endemic to New Zealand. It has only been confirmed to be present in two places, the Cupola Basin in the Nelson Lakes National Park, [1] and the Sabine Valley. [1]
In March 2021, 53 years after the first sighting, and 14 years after the last confirmed sighting, four cupola geckos, including a pregnant female, were found in the Sabine Valley in an expedition headed by herpetologist Ben Barr. [2]
Very few recorded specimens of the Cupola gecko exist. [3] It is similar in appearance to other forest geckos, having a grey-brown colour with dark W- or V-shaped bands or blotches. [3] It differs from other related species in that it has a shorter snout and a triangular shaped head with V-shaped markings. [2] It has a speckled undersurface, a bright orange mouth lining, and grey/brown eyes. [4] The sizes of adult specimens are unknown, but probably measure around 70-85mm. [4] Juveniles are dark grey-brown with grey chevron markings and scattered spots of mustard yellow. [4]
The Cupola gecko is only known to exist in the Cupola Basin and the Sabine Valley. The first Cupola Basin specimen was found in a scrubby boulder field not far above the Cupola Basin hut. [4]
The Department of Conservation classifies the Cupola gecko as Data Deficient under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. [4]