New Zealand Herpetology (lizards & frogs) 
Herpetological Capability
Landcare Research’s Herpetology Capability has seen the creation of a multi-skilled herpetological research team from 2007. Led by Grant Norbury (wildlife ecology), key people in this team are Trent Bell (herpetologist), Frank Molinia (reproductive technology), Daniel Tompkins (disease and parasitology) and Dianne Gleeson (genetics).
Keystone capability projects are: Trent’s Lizard Informatics project funded by the Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information System programme (TFBIS); and Frank’s two reproductive technology projects, with Archey’s frog (Leiopelma archeyi) and McCann’s skink (Oligosoma maccanni).
Landcare Research is now involved with contract work in herpetology, recently with recovery planning for threatened species; ecosystem restoration; and lizard surveying and research on the Mokohinau and Great Barrier islands, in Wellington’s Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, across Otago, in both West Coast and Southland forests, and high up in the Fiordland mountains. Landcare Research will be developing skills in lizard translocations in the near future.
Why is herpetology so important in New Zealand?
The importance and significance of the herpetofauna (lizards and frogs) in New Zealand is high. New Zealand is essentially as much a land of unique lizards and frogs as it is a land of birds. There is a need to raise awareness of New Zealand’s herpetofauna and answer conservation management and research questions – this is where Landcare Research can be of assistance.
Frogs
There are four extant species of endemic native frog in New Zealand, which are considered among the most primitive frogs in the world – all of these frogs are endangered. They occur in small relict populations with as few as 300 individuals for some species. Extinction is a very real possibility for some of our frog fauna.
There is now an international focus on the alarming global decline and extinctions of many species of amphibians. Conservation managers are understandably very concerned about the high risk of loss of New Zealand’s primitive frogs. Four agents of decline have been put forward: (a) introduced predators, (b) habitat modification, (c) toxic chemicals in the environment, and (d) the lethal chytrid fungi, which may be more prevalent with global warming.
At Landcare Research, we want to assist in delivering research answers for frog conservation management, particularly with reproductive technology and management of distinct genetic units.
Lizards
Lizards are the only other major indigenous vertebrate taxa in New Zealand besides birds.
- Lizards are New Zealand’s second largest vertebrate group and occupy almost all ecosystems.
- Currently only 47 of at least 80+ species are described.
- More than half of this fauna is classified as rare, threatened or endangered.
- New Zealand lizards are unique in terms of endemism and evolutionary significance, but these unique attributes also put lizards at enhanced risk from introduced mammalian predators.
- Lizards are critical for ecosystem processes and function, with ecological roles such as pollination, frugivory and associated seed dispersal, or honeydew feeding. Lizards also are high-level trophic predators and have various generalist and specialist roles in ecosystems and can be exceptionally abundant when released from mammalian predation pressure.
- Lizards are only now emerging as iconic flagship and indicator species for conservation and ecological restoration.
Landcare Research is committed to delivering informatic tools and developing reproductive technologies and genetic management tools for lizards.
- NZ Lizards Database
The NZ Lizards Database is a searchable online system that provides access to a wealth of information describing the lizard species of New Zealand and will be useful to organisations and individuals alike.
Enter the NZ Lizards database »
Primary contact
 | Grant Norbury Email  |
Landcare Research | |
Phone: +64 3 440 2930 |