Natural global range – Woodworthia cf.
brunnea geckos are an endemic species; they occur naturally only in the South Island of New Zealand.
The New Zealand Department of Conservation has them listed as “bio status category: Indigenous (Endemic)”, with a New Zealand threat classification of declining.

New Zealand range – These geckos are found in the South Island of New Zealand, from southern Marlborough to mid-Canterbury and the Banks Peninsula.
They are also found inland in the Canterbury plains and on coastal hills south to around the Rakaia River.
They have been observed on Kaitorete spit in their smaller dune-land size.
Around the Banks Peninsula and the Port Hills, they are locally abundant but have been lost in many parts of the Canterbury plains due to habitat loss/land use change.

The Canterbury gecko has a range of habitat preferences primarily in lowland areas which include trees in forests as they retreat to sites beneath loose bark or in deep hallows especially in standing dead trees.
They also live in creviced rock outcrops, rock tumbles, bluffs and associated scrubby vegetation as well as dune lands among driftwood, scrub, rocks and pohuehue, and along coastlines, especially Birdlings Flat/Kaitorete Spit.

The climate around the Banks Peninsula consists of an average rainfall of around 969mm per year, as the rainfall in New Zealand varies quite a bit we can see that the geckos prefer the East Coast compared to the West Coast as it is a lot drier on the East.
The average temperature ranges from a high of 23 degrees to a low of 4 degrees in summer and a high of 13 degrees to a low of 2 degrees in winter.
Canterbury has around 2100–2300 hours of sunshine annually.
The Canterbury gecko exhibits high site fidelity and has very small home range.
They have also adapted to widespread habitat modifications and can be seen in shelterbelts and other wild areas in the agricultural landscape.

Woodworthia cf.
brunnea geckos are a generalist/facultative species, as they inhabit the coastal, lowland, and montane/subalpine regions of the South Island, in a wide variety of habitats.
They are restricted below the tree line in most areas.
On predator-free islands, they have been found inhabiting seabird burrows and can be found frequently in modified environments such as inorganic debris and buildings, close to human habitation.
Small-leaved coprosmas are a favourite of New Zealand lizard species, as they offer a protective habitat in their tangled branches.
Pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia complexa) is another favourite, as many invertebrates are found on it, and the fruit is ideal for lizards.
Natural global range – Woodworthia cf. brunnea geckos are an endemic species; they occur naturally only in the South Island of New Zealand. The New Zealand Department of Conservation has them listed as “bio status category: Indigenous (Endemic)”, with a New Zealand threat classification of declining.
New Zealand range – These geckos are found in the South Island of New Zealand, from southern Marlborough to mid-Canterbury and the Banks Peninsula. They are also found inland in the Canterbury plains and on coastal hills south to around the Rakaia River. They have been observed on Kaitorete spit in their smaller dune-land size. Around the Banks Peninsula and the Port Hills, they are locally abundant but have been lost in many parts of the Canterbury plains due to habitat loss/land use change.
The Canterbury gecko has a range of habitat preferences primarily in lowland areas which include trees in forests as they retreat to sites beneath loose bark or in deep hallows especially in standing dead trees. They also live in creviced rock outcrops, rock tumbles, bluffs and associated scrubby vegetation as well as dune lands among driftwood, scrub, rocks and pohuehue, and along coastlines, especially Birdlings Flat/Kaitorete Spit.
The climate around the Banks Peninsula consists of an average rainfall of around 969mm per year, as the rainfall in New Zealand varies quite a bit we can see that the geckos prefer the East Coast compared to the West Coast as it is a lot drier on the East. The average temperature ranges from a high of 23 degrees to a low of 4 degrees in summer and a high of 13 degrees to a low of 2 degrees in winter. Canterbury has around 2100–2300 hours of sunshine annually. The Canterbury gecko exhibits high site fidelity and has very small home range. They have also adapted to widespread habitat modifications and can be seen in shelterbelts and other wild areas in the agricultural landscape.
Woodworthia cf. brunnea geckos are a generalist/facultative species, as they inhabit the coastal, lowland, and montane/subalpine regions of the South Island, in a wide variety of habitats. They are restricted below the tree line in most areas. On predator-free islands, they have been found inhabiting seabird burrows and can be found frequently in modified environments such as inorganic debris and buildings, close to human habitation. Small-leaved coprosmas are a favourite of New Zealand lizard species, as they offer a protective habitat in their tangled branches. Pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia complexa) is another favourite, as many invertebrates are found on it, and the fruit is ideal for lizards.
Canterbury gecko