Cupola gecko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cupola gecko |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Diplodactylidae |
| Genus: | Mokopirirakau |
The Cupola gecko (scientific name: Mokopirirakau "cupola") is a special type of gecko. It's called "Cupola" because it was first found near the Cupola Basin in Nelson Lakes National Park. This name isn't official yet, but it helps scientists talk about this gecko.
This gecko lives only in New Zealand. Scientists have only found it in two places: the Cupola Basin and the Sabine Valley. In March 2021, after many years, four Cupola geckos were found in the Sabine Valley. One of them was a pregnant female! This exciting discovery was made by a reptile expert named Ben Barr.
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What Does the Cupola Gecko Look Like?
Scientists haven't found many Cupola geckos yet. It looks a lot like other forest geckos. Its skin is usually grey-brown. It has dark patterns that look like the letters "W" or "V".
Special Features of the Cupola Gecko
The Cupola gecko has a shorter snout than other geckos. Its head is shaped like a triangle. It also has V-shaped marks on its head. If you look underneath, its belly is speckled. Inside its mouth, it has a bright orange lining. Its eyes are grey or brown.
How Big Are They?
Scientists don't know the exact size of adult Cupola geckos. They think adults might be about 70 to 85 millimeters long. Young geckos are dark grey-brown. They have grey chevron (V-shaped) marks and small spots of mustard yellow.
Where Do Cupola Geckos Live?
The Cupola gecko is only known to live in two places. These are the Cupola Basin and the Sabine Valley. Both places are in the Nelson Lakes National Park in New Zealand. The very first Cupola gecko was found in a rocky area near the Cupola Basin hut.
How Are Cupola Geckos Protected?
The Department of Conservation helps protect animals in New Zealand. They have a system to classify how rare animals are. For the Cupola gecko, they say it is Data Deficient. This means scientists don't have enough information about it. They need to learn more to know how many there are and how best to protect them.
