Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Naultinus
Species: N. elegans
Subspecies: N. elegans punctatus
Trinomial name: Naultinus elegans punctatus
Common name: Wellington green gecko, Barking gecko
Naultinus elegans punctatus is a subspecies of gecko found only in the southern half of the North Island of New Zealand. The other subspecies, the Auckland green gecko, is found in the northern half of the North Island (except north of Whangaroa) and the two ranges do not overlap. The scientific names 'elegans' and 'punctatus' means 'elegant and spotted'.
The Wellington green gecko is much larger and more heavily built than the Auckland green gecko and can be distinguished by the yellow soles on its feet instead of grey-green. It lives arboreally in scrub and forest areas, especially kanuka and manuka. Although it hunts nocturnally, for moths and flies, it also likes to sun-bask. It displays an aggressive behaviour, baring its open blue mouth and barking if provoked.
Photographed at "Zealandia" sanctuary, Karori, Wellington
A striped variation of a Wellington green gecko,
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
