Reptiles of New Zealand facts for kids
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New Zealand is a special place with unique animals, and its reptiles are no exception! The reptiles living in New Zealand today include many types of lizards and a very unique animal called the tuatara. You'll also find several kinds of sea turtles and sea snakes visiting its waters. Almost all of these reptiles are native to New Zealand, meaning they naturally belong there. Even more amazing, nearly all the land-based ones are endemic, which means they are found nowhere else in the world!
Sometimes, foreign reptiles accidentally arrive in New Zealand, like through cargo ships. But only one, the Australian rainbow skink (also called the plague skink), has managed to live and spread in the wild. It's actually considered an unwanted pest because it can harm native species.
Long, long ago, New Zealand was also home to many amazing dinosaurs and other ancient reptiles. We know about them from fossils found in the ground.
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Reptiles Living Today
New Zealand is home to several groups of reptiles that are still alive today. These include different kinds of lizards, the tuatara, and various sea turtles and sea snakes that visit New Zealand's coasts.
Lizards
New Zealand has many types of lizards, mostly geckos and skinks. These small reptiles are a big part of New Zealand's unique wildlife.
Geckos
There are at least 48 known species of geckos in New Zealand. Scientists are still discovering and describing new ones! Geckos are known for their amazing ability to climb walls and even ceilings, thanks to special pads on their feet. Many New Zealand geckos are brightly colored and active during the day.
Skinks
New Zealand has over 70 species of skinks that are found only there. Most of these belong to a group called Oligosoma. Skinks are usually smooth and shiny, with long bodies and short legs. They often hide under rocks or logs. The only skink that is not native to New Zealand is the rainbow skink, which came from Australia and is now considered an invasive species.
Tuatara: A Living Fossil
The tuatara is truly special. It looks a lot like a lizard, but it's actually not! It belongs to its own unique group of reptiles. Scientists call it a "living fossil" because it's the only surviving member of an ancient group of reptiles that lived alongside dinosaurs. Tuataras can live for a very long time, sometimes over 100 years! They are found only on a few predator-free islands around New Zealand.
Sea Turtles
Several species of sea turtles visit the waters around New Zealand. These amazing creatures travel vast distances across the ocean.
- The Leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle in the world and can be found widely around New Zealand's coasts.
- The Green sea turtle is often seen around the northern part of the North Island.
- The Loggerhead sea turtle is an occasional visitor to New Zealand's main islands.
- The Hawksbill sea turtle and Olive ridley sea turtle are rarer visitors, sometimes seen in New Zealand waters.
Sea Snakes
Sea snakes are also occasional visitors to New Zealand, especially in the warmer northern waters. They are venomous, but generally not aggressive unless threatened.
- The Yellow-bellied sea snake is the most common sea snake visitor to the northern half of New Zealand.
- Other types, like the Yellow-lipped sea krait and New Caledonian sea krait, are very rare visitors. The Blue-lipped sea krait is an extremely rare sight.
Ancient Reptiles of New Zealand
New Zealand was once home to many incredible ancient reptiles, including dinosaurs! We know about these creatures from the fossils that have been discovered in the country.
One of the largest mosasaurs in the world, a giant marine reptile, was found in New Zealand and named Moanasaurus. Another impressive ancient marine reptile found here was a plesiosaur called Mauisaurus. These amazing creatures swam in the seas that covered parts of New Zealand millions of years ago.
