Synthesising Our Current Knowledge of New Zealand Lizards
The New Zealand lizard fauna, comprising of skinks (Scincidae: Eugongylinae) and geckos (Diplodactylidae), is the most diverse squamate reptile assemblage of any cool temperate region on Earth. It is characterised by its ecological, evolutionary and physi
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New Zealand Lizards
New Zealand Lizards
David G. Chapple Editor
New Zealand Lizards
Editor David G. Chapple School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton, Victoria Australia
ISBN 978-3-319-41672-4 ISBN 978-3-319-41674-8 DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-41674-8
(eBook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016953846 © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland
For Kira and Nicole
Foreword
Like many young Australians of my generation, my first trip overseas was to New Zealand, when I was 20 years of age. But unlike most of my compatriots, my journey was driven by my fondness for reptiles. I was invited to join a scientific expedition to Stephens Island, in the middle of Cook Strait, to study the almostmythical Tuatara. I was entranced by these large dragon-like creatures—spectacular survivors of a once-mighty evolutionary lineage, clinging to existence on the rocky shores of a few windswept islands. In my undergraduate lectures, I had heard all about the lordly Tuatara, as well as the desperately endangered Stephens Island Frog. But I was astonished when, halfway through the trip, I found a small, elegantly striped gecko. Until then, I was blissfully unaware of the lizards of New Zealand. Distracted by the few living survivors of archaic groups, I had forgotten—or more likely, never realised—that New Zealand is also home to a spectacular evolutionary radiation of lizards. My ignorance reflected a widespread phenomenon: until recently, the lizards of New Zealand were the epitome of a neglected group. Neglected by science, neglected by the public, and neglected by wildlife managers. Despite their astonishing diversity—we now know there are more than 100 species—the New Zealand lizards for long lived in the shadow of the Tuatara, their more famous reptilian r
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