Aotearoa New Zealand is a land of reptiles.

Our terrestrial (land-based) reptiles include one tuatara species and 126 species of lizard. All are found nowhere else on Earth. The tuatara is a modern-reptile and the only living member of the order Rhynchocephalia, which is over 250 million years old. Lizards are a diverse group of wildlife worldwide, but in Aotearoa there are only two families – skinks and geckos. These two families, however, have a remarkable number of species for a small country with a mild climate.

The number of marine reptiles that naturally occur in Aotearoa New Zealand’s waters are five honu/sea turtles and four sea snakes.

In Otago we have 34 species of reptiles: one tuatara species, 18 skink species, 13 gecko species, and two marine honu/sea turtle species. Seven of our lizard species are regional endemics, meaning they are only found in Otago.

Two reptile species have gone extinct in Otago, but one has been reintroduced to a sanctuary.

Tuatara are of great cultural significance to Māori and are viewed as the kaitiaki (guardians) of knowledge by some iwi. In Māori tradition, other reptiles can also be important kaitiaki and can carry ill omens. Many iwi believe reptiles to be descendants of Punga, a son of Tangaroa, the atua or deity of the ocean, having travelled with Tangaroa to the ocean when he fled following the separation of Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother.

Otago is home to 31 lizards species, making it Aotearoa New Zealand’s lizard diversity capitial.

To celebrate our mokomoko/lizard species the ORC worked with Samuel Purdie from Southern Lakes Sanctuary, Carey Knox from Southern Scales and the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, and Tūhura Otago Museum to produce a series of infographic fact sheets. These educational resources provide information for each mokomoko/lizard species on how to identify them, where to find them and what they eat, and their main threats and conservation status.

The factsheets are suitable for all ages and are available for download below. Please feel free to share these around and print them out to raise about Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique lizards.

Otago is home to the world’s southernmost population free-roaming tuatara.

To raise awareness of tuatara and the reintroduced population at Orokonui Ecosanctuary – Te Korowai o Mihiwaka, near Ōtepoti Dunedin, the ORC worked with Samuel Purdie from Southern Lakes Sanctuary, Alison Cree from the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, and Tūhura Otago Museum to produce an infographic fact sheet. We are grateful to Ngāti Koata, kaitiaki (guardians) of Takapourewa tuatara where individuals from the reintroduced population was sourced, and Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, mana whenua of the recipient location at Orokonui Ecosanctuary – Te Korowai o Mihiwaka. This educational resource provides information on  on how to identify tuatara, what they eat, and their main threats and conservation status.

A total of 34 reptile species were identified as present in Otago, including 18 skinks, 13 geckos, two marine reptiles (both sea turtles), and tuatara.

In Otago

• 14 species were assessed as Regionally Threatened (Regionally Critical: 2; Regionally Endangered:4; Regionally Vulnerable: 8),
• 16 as Regionally at Risk (Regionally Declining: 16),
• 1 as Regionally Not Threatened, and
• 2 as Regionally Non-resident Native (Regionally Vagrant).

Two terrestrial reptile species have been Regionally Extirpated, i.e., extinct in the region, with one of them being reintroduced back into the region (tuatara).

The region was identified as a National Stronghold (>20% national population) for 25 of the 32 resident species (~78%), i.e., lizards (skinks and geckos) and tuatara. Seven of these species are regional endemics, meaning they are found nowhere else, including the Burgan skink (Oligosoma burganae), grand skink (O. grande), Kawarau gecko (Woodworthia “Cromwell”), orange-spotted gecko (Mokopirirakau “Roys Peak”), Otago skink (O. otagense), schist gecko (W. “Central Otago”), and Raggedy Range gecko (W. “Raggedy”).

ORC completed this regional conservation status of reptiles in 2024, in conjunction with a panel of experts from the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waha (Dr Jo Monks), Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (Dr James Reardon), Samuel Purdie (Southern Lakes Sanctuary), and Southern Scales (Carey Knox).