The rarest Gecko

[Southernman]

HI Geckofactory,

The total that have been found is only 8. My saying about 12 was inccorrect. They've been found now at 5 different locations in the Coromandel. No more have turned up since my last posting.

 

[Salzy]

Thanks so much for keeping us updated on this. That is a unique gecko and something very cool to see. It's crazy to think of how rare this species might actually be.

 

[Southernman]

You have to remeber they are found on a number of Islands in Cook Straight. Stephens Is & Maud Island. The biggest population known is on Stephens Island, hence it's name.
But like many New Zealand lizards it has a somewhat relic distribution pattern. Hoplodactylus stephensi was probably once more widely distributed than we understand.

 

[willbenn]

WOW...those are amazing! they look similar to the striped strophurus species in australia.

 

[diplodactyla]

To me it resembles a gargoyle's pattern, fantastic!

 

[cilatusguy]

amazing,amazing,amazing! that is a beautiful gecko hope they turn up in the pet trade
I would love to have one if they do.

 

[OffshoreMetal]

amazing,amazing,amazing! that is a beautiful gecko hope they turn up in the pet trade
I would love to have one if they do.

There wont be any in the pet trade soon. Maybe in like 10 Years but for now its considered a Almost extinct species. I think the last one found was in like 199?.
Anyway its sad to see a species that close to be instinct.

 

[Southernman]

No no no no, you're completely wrong there. Hard to find yes, extinct, not at all.

 

[purpleblockhead]

great story im very glad 2 hear that there not extinct!!

 

[TheGeckoPad]

Are the different Island populations different subspecies or all the same species? So in 2007 there was one male known to exist and now there are 8 total specimens? Are they being set up in captive breeding programs?

 

[monkeyman99]

That so cool.Would love to have one:biggrin:.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

That so cool.Would love to have one:biggrin:.

So would many other folks! A pair runs near $10,000 USD :biggrin:.

 

[leokiko]

thats a beautiful lizard

 

[altitudeexotics]

There wont be any in the pet trade soon. Maybe in like 10 Years but for now its considered a Almost extinct species. I think the last one found was in like 199?.
Anyway its sad to see a species that close to be instinct.

Crested gecko's were once extinct too lol. At one point people were saying "no way those will ever be just pets".

 

[MauricesExoticPets]

So would many other folks! A pair runs near $10,000 USD :biggrin:.

I'm not sure putting a dollar value on them at the moment is a good idea.

Maurice Pudlo

 

[LarryLockard]

I've got to agree with Maurice, these geckos and the country they are native to, have not allowed the legal exportation of native gecko or any reptile species since the early '70's. I for one hope that they will be able to increase the number in the wild with a successful supplemental breeding program, and then one day they will be able to be kept in captivity in NZ, after that who knows we might see them in the international forum. :coverlaugh:

 

[pumilio123]

Crested gecko's were once extinct too lol. At one point people were saying "no way those will ever be just pets".

Yes, but if you compare the "juvenile output" of a ciliatus and of a female of any New Zealand geckos species you will notice the difference ;-)