Hoplodactylus
From Free net encyclopedia
{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Hoplodactylus | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Reptilia | ordo = Squamata | subordo = Sauria | familia = Gekkonidae | genus = Hoplodactylus }} Hoplodactylus is one of two genera of Gecko's native to New Zealand, the other being Naultinus. Species in this genus tend to have rather dull colouration with little variation on a generally brown/grey theme- although mottled greens are seen in some species, notably the forest Gecko, Hoplodactylus Granulatus. The one exception to this rule of general drabness in colouration is the striking "herring boned" colour pattern of green, brown, black and white that is displayed by Hoplodactylus rakiurae. Although generally species of this genus cannot compete with those of Naultinus in terms of their vivid and beautiful colouration, Hoplodactylus species do have the ability to subtly change their skin colour pattern to give better camouflage- thus reducing the risk of predation. All species in this genus have more or less nocturnal activity patterns in contrast to the solely diurnal nature of Naultinus species and unlike species in the latter genus, are not purely arboreal and will forage on the ground.
H. Duvaucelii in this genus is the largest species of Gecko remaining in New Zealand although due to predation by introduced mamammal's such as the Norway rat their range is at present restricted to pest free offshore islands ==Classification of genus Hoplodactylus:==