Material and Methods

Geckos are represented in New Zealand by two endemic genera, Naultinus Gray and Hoplodactylus Fitzinger. Naultinus has a single species, whereas four species of Hoplodactylus are recognised by Malcolm Smith (1933).

In this study, specimens of Naultinus elegans and of two species of Hoplodactylus (H. duvaucelii and H. pacificus) have been used. In view of the similarity between the latter two species and of the fact that the morphological features discussed are

mainly at the generic level, no specimens of H. granulatus and H. maculatus were obtained for study. In any case, McCann (1955), who has carried out a systematic study of the New Zealand lizards, claims that H. maculatus is at the most a synonym for H. pacificus.

The bulk of the material for study consisted of alizarin transparencies which were prepared by standard methods. Care was exercised when clearing in caustic potash, and in the case of one large, spirit-hardened specimen the clearing process took over six months. In all cases the results were satisfactory for a clear distinction between bone, calcified cartilage and uncalcified cartilage. The transparencies were first studied in toto and then dissected out under a binocular microscope.

Portions of the head and axial skeleton of Hoplodactylus pacificus were embedded and serially sectioned in order to clarify doubtful points. X-ray photographs were used in the study of the postcranial skeleton.

In order to provide comparative material, alizarin transparencies of three Jamaican and one Australian gecko were prepared. These were Aristelliger praesignis Hallowell, Sphaerodactylus parker Grant, Gonatodes fuscus Hallowell, and Phyllurus (Gymnodactylus) platurus White.