Anyone interested in keeping New Zealand lizards must obtain a permit from the Department of Conservation. Like all protected NZ native species, geckos and skinks cannot be bought or sold.
What lizards are legal in NZ?
Registering to be covered by the General Authorisation will allow you to keep the following species in captivity:
- Naultinus grayii (Northland green gecko)
- Naultinus elegans (Elegant gecko)
- Naultinus punctatus (Barking gecko)
- Dactylocnemis pacificus (Pacific gecko)
- Dactylocnemis “North Cape” (North Cape Pacific gecko)
What is the rarest skink?
| Solomon Islands skink | |
|---|---|
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Corucia Gray, 1855 |
| Species: | C. zebrata |
How do I get rid of skinks in NZ?
Solutions
- Get rid of the lizard food source – Spray the interior and exterior with NO Bugs Super to reduce flies, moths, ants and other insects.
- Seal or remove hiding places – Lizards are small and can hide during the day in cracks and crevices around the building.
Whats the rarest reptile in the world?
Abingdon Island giant tortoise
The Abingdon Island giant tortoise Geochelone elephantopus abingdoni is represented by a single living specimen, an aged male called `Lonesome George’, making it the world’s rarest reptile.
Where do Ornate skinks live in New Zealand?
The ornate skink, Oligosoma ornata, is a rare species of skink endemic to New Zealand. This species was once widespread through much of the North Island and on many offshore islands in the Hauraki Gulf and north of the Coromandel Peninsula.
Is the ornate skink in decline?
The ornate skink is in gradual decline, and needs our help to protect it. The ornate skink is a threatened species, classified as being in “Gradual Decline”—populations are declining over several generations. It is thought that the decline in some places on the mainland may be partly offset by increases on predator-free offshore islands.
Can Ornate skinks and Whitaker’s skinks co-exist?
Ornate skinks are not currently known to co-exist with Whitaker’s skinks . Ornate skinks can be identified by the white or yellowish “teardrop” edged with black, below each eye. In 2012 the Department of Conservation classified the ornate skink as At Risk under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.
