CIBED - - Oceanic Gecko - Moko Ngararā RR

Gehyra oceanica Oceanic Gecko Moko Ngararā ^RR

f.GEKKONIDAE Geckos

Gehyra oceanica Oceanic Gecko Moko Ngararā ^RR

f.GEKKONIDAE Geckos

Cook Islands Status Summary

Show Notes

Intl. NamesOceanic Gecko ^EN

Local NamesMoko Ngārara ? Tuāvaru^RR Moko Karara^MG Moko Tuāvaru^AT,MK Moko Tu‘āvaru^MT Moko ‘Ārara^AK Ngarara Lizard^PL Ngālala^TNs Ngārara^TNw Moko Ngarara^MH Moko Ngangara ?s^RK Ngōpili^PK

Pacific NamesNo Content

Sci. NamesGehyra oceanica (accepted name) , Gecko oceanicus

High Tax. Eng.k.Animals, p.Vertebrates, o.Snakes and Lizards, so.Lizards, f.Geckos - Lizard

High Tax. Latink.ANIMALIA, p.CHORDATA, sp.GNATHOSTOMATA, spc.TETRAPODA, c.REPTILIA, o.Squamata, so.Lacertilia, f.GEKKONIDAE

Natl. PresencePresent

Sth. PresenceRR⁺⁺⁺⁺MG^PAT⁺⁺⁺MK^PMT^PAK?PL?MN?TK?

Nth. PresenceTN⁺⁺MH?RK?PK⁺⁺NS?SW⁺⁺⁺

VouchersPK²⁰⁰⁴ SW²⁰²⁵

Local OriginIntroduced; Polynesian; Naturalised

Global RangeNative: PNG/Australia - ?Solomons; Introduced: Fiji - Pitcairn;

HabitatLand; Lowlands, Coastal, Horticultural Zone; Uplands

ThreatenedNo Content

InvasivenessInvasive; Domestic

BiosecurityNo Content

Medical StatusNo Content

Harmful StatusNo Content

UsesNo Content

IdentificationA large gecko to 18cmTL, 9cmSVL. Mottled brown and pale brown with some pale spots and broad pale bands over the tail; darker in the wild; underside yellow. Toe-pads 2-5, wide-oval with claw arising near centre, and 10-18 undivided lamellae. Tail tapmore...ering from base, with 3-5 rows of enlarged mid-ventral scales. VOICE a low growling "ngaarrr". EGGS 13x12mm, non-adherent, in crevices and under bark. Can shed skin to help it escape.

Multimedia & Other Resources

Photographs: 6
Video: 0
Audio: 0
Documents: 0
Contribute Multimedia

5BC004_Gehy-ocea_

Click on a thumbnail to see the full image and image details.

Pale adult and foot detail

Outdoor colour - two views

Variable juvenile colouring

Ventral view

Pale adult and foot detail

Foot print comparison

Click on a thumbnail to see the item and item details.

Click on a thumbnail to hear the item and see item details.

Click on a thumbnail to see the item and item details.

Contribute

Vernacular Names

English and International Names

Oceanic Gecko ^EN

Pacific Names

No Pacific Names

Local Names

Moko Ngārara ? Tuāvaru^RR Moko Karara^MG Moko Tuāvaru^AT,MK Moko Tu‘āvaru^MT Moko ‘Ārara^AK Ngarara Lizard^PL Ngālala^TNs Ngārara^TNw Moko Ngarara^MH Moko Ngangara ?s^RK Ngōpili^PK

National Name: Moko Ngararā ^RR

Island	Status	Main name
National name	RR	Moko Ngararā
Rarotonga	++++	Moko Ngārara ? Tuāvaru
Mangaia	P	Moko Karara
Ātiu	+++	Moko Tuāvaru
Ma‘uke	P	Moko Tuāvaru
Miti‘āro	P	Moko Tu‘āvaru
Aitutaki		Moko ‘Ārara
Palmerston		Ngarara Lizard
Tongareva-write	++	Ngārara
Tongareva-speak	++	Ngālala
Manihiki		Moko Ngarara
Rakahanga		Moko Ngangara ?s
Pukapuka	++	Ngōpili
Nassau		?P,?N

Scientific Names and Taxonomy

National Distribution & Vouchers

National Presence:

Present

Oceanic

Absent

islands: [ , {label: 'Rarotonga', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 404.5, left: 210.5, labelLeft: 222, labelTop: 404} , {label: 'Mangaia', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 427.5, left: 261.5, labelLeft: 274, labelTop: 426} , {label: 'Ātiu', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 372.5, left: 261.5, labelLeft: 244, labelTop: 382} , {label: 'Ma‘uke', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 374.5, left: 282.5, labelLeft: 284, labelTop: 385} , {label: 'Miti‘āro', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 358.5, left: 274.5, labelLeft: 283, labelTop: 351} , {label: 'Aitutaki', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 334.5, left: 210.5, labelLeft: 209, labelTop: 321} , {label: 'Palmerston', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 309.5, left: 112.5, labelLeft: 124, labelTop: 309} , {label: 'Manuae', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 346.5, left: 234.5, labelLeft: 244, labelTop: 338} , {label: 'Takūtea', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 362.5, left: 254.5, labelLeft: 211, labelTop: 363} , {label: 'Tongareva', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 32.5, left: 260.5, labelLeft: 205, labelTop: 31} , {label: 'Manihiki', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 80.5, left: 175.5, labelLeft: 187, labelTop: 80} , {label: 'Rakahanga', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 63.5, left: 173.5, labelLeft: 186, labelTop: 63} , {label: 'Pukapuka', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 88.5, left: 33.5, labelLeft: 45, labelTop: 88} , {label: 'Nassau', stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#fff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 108.5, left: 46.5, labelLeft: 59, labelTop: 108} , {label: 'Suwarrow', stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: '', top: 162.5, left: 115.5, labelLeft: 127, labelTop: 162} ] , legend: [{label: 'Not Assessed', top: 235, stroke: '#0000a0', fill: '#ffffff', symbol: 'WR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: 'Present', top: 250, stroke: '#009900', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: '? Present', top: 265, stroke: '#006600', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'GWR', tris: '#ACACAC', trif: '#ffffff'}, {label: 'Absent', top: 280, stroke: '#C00000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RR', tris: '', trif: ''}, {label: '? Absent', top: 295, stroke: '#C00000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RWR', tris: '#c0c0c0', trif: '#ffffff'}, {label: 'Intercepted', top: 312, stroke: '#990000', fill: '#CC0000', symbol: 'RDR', tris: '#000000', trif: '#000000'}, {label: 'Extirpated/Extinct', top: 331, stroke: '#006600', fill: '#00CC00', symbol: 'RGR', tris: '#660000', trif: '#CC0000'} ]

Island	Status
Rarotonga	++++
Mangaia	Present
Ātiu	+++
Ma‘uke	Present
Miti‘āro	Present
Aitutaki
Palmerston
Manuae
Takūtea
Tongareva	++
Manihiki
Rakahanga
Pukapuka	++
Nassau
Suwarrow	+++

Vouchers for:
Gehyra oceanica

Cook Islands

Southern

Northern

Oceanic

Rarotonga

Mangaia

Ātiu

Ma‘uke

Miti‘āro

Aitutaki

Palmerston

Manuae

Takūtea

Tongareva

Manihiki

Rakahanga

Pukapuka _____ 2004 1csP specimen+photo specimen+photo, Hospital on Wale, 2/2004, G.McCormack with ID as Gehyra oceanica to AuckMus LH2690 ID-confirmed B.Gill.

Nassau

Suwarrow _____ 2025 2fsP fieldspecimen+photo 2025-10/11, fieldphoto, Anchorage house, Kas Silk, ID G.McCormack as Gehyra oceanica.

Identification

Local Origin and Global Range

Habitat

no data available

Threatened

Invasive/Pest Status

no data available

Biosecurity

Medicinal

no data available

Species Uses

References

Citation Information

McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.04.03 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
Please refer to our use policy.

Saved Species X of 20

Save Species

-->

Cook Islands Status Summary

Multimedia & Other Resources

Vernacular Names

English and International Names

Pacific Names

Scientific Names and Taxonomy

Accepted Name

Synonyms

National Distribution & Vouchers

Vouchers for:
Gehyra oceanica

Identification

Local Origin and Global Range

Habitat

Threatened

Invasive/Pest Status

Biosecurity

Medicinal

Species Uses

References

Citation Information

You have unsaved changes!

Cook Islands Status Summary

Multimedia & Other Resources

Vernacular Names

Accepted Name

Synonyms

Vouchers for: Gehyra oceanica

Citation Information

You have unsaved changes!

Vouchers for:
Gehyra oceanica