General Information

COMMON NAMES: Oceanic Gecko TRADITIONAL NAMES: Moko Ngararā ? Tuāvaru (RR), Moko Karara (MG), Moko Tuāvaru (AT MK), Moko Tu‘āvaru (MT), Moko ‘Ārara (AK), Ngarara Lizard (PL), Ngālala (TS), Ngārara (TW), Moko Ngarara (MH), Moko Ngangara ?s (RK), Ngōpili (PK) GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE PNG/Australia - ?Solomons; EXOTIC EXOTIC Fiji - Pitcairn COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Introduced - Polynesian, Naturalised; Land, coastal to mountains (mid-elevations); on dwellings and trees SIGNIFICANCE LIST: ; Pest - household Nuisance KEY FEATURES: A large gecko, to 18cmTL. Usually mottled brown and pale borwn, with broad pale bands on teh tail. TOE-PADS wide oval with claw arising centrally. Tail tapering steadily from the base. Makes a growling sound.

Cook Islands Distribution

View Distribution Map

Southern Group: Present    Makatea: Present
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
++++	P	+++	P	P

Northern Group: Present
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW
++			++

Gehyra oceanica (Lesson, 1828)
SYNONYMS: Gecko oceanicus Lesson, 1828

TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; CHORDATA; GNATHOSTOMATA (Jawed Vertebrates); TETRAPODA; REPTILIA; Squamata; Lacertilia; GEKKONIDAE

IDENTIFICATION: A large gecko to 18cmTL, 9cmSVL. Mottled brown and pale brown with some pale spots and broad pale bands over the tail; darker in the wild; underside yellow. Toe-pads 2-5, wide-oval with claw arising near centre, and 10-18 undivided lamellae. Tail tapering from base, with 3-5 rows of enlarged mid-ventral scales. VOICE a low growling "ngaarrr". EGGS 13x12mm, non-adherent, in crevices and under bark. Can shed skin to help it escape.

Vouchers:
Pukapuka: specimen+photo, Hospital on Wale, 2/2004, G.McCormack with ID as Gehyra oceanica to AuckMus LH2690 ID-confirmed B.Gill.

References:
None recorded.

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zupM04b, zD05a

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