Rod A. Hitchmough

New Zealand Department of Conservation

The New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) provides a tool for assessing the extinction risk for taxa based on the estimated sizes of and forecasted changes to their populations. This revision of the 2008 system includes removal of the conservation status At Risk – Relict; the modification of At Risk – Naturally Uncommon to include all ta...

The conservation status of 109 taxa of medium to large land snails in the family Rhytididae in New Zealand was assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System criteria. In total, 74 taxa were assessed as being Threatened, 22 as At Risk, 5 as Not Threatened and 8 as Data Deficient (i.e. insufficient information was available to assess th...

The extant marine reptile fauna of Aotearoa New Zealand comprises two marine turtle families (Dermochelyidae, Cheloniidae) and members of each of the two subfamilies of marine snakes: sea kraits (Laticaudinae), and true sea snakes (Hydrophiinae) (Fig. 23.1). King et al. (2009) listed five turtle species and two marine snake species, all non-breedin...

Woodworthia is a diverse genus of diplodactylid geckos found in Aotearoa/ New Zealand, with 17 likely species. Despite this diversity, only two species have been formally described: Woodworthia maculata (Gray, 1845) and W. chrysosiretica (Robb, 1980). In this paper, we use an integrated taxonomic approach to describe a new species of Woodworthia ge...

The New Zealand endemic gecko genus Hoplodactylus is revised. Two species are recognized: Hoplodactylus duvaucelii (Duméril & Bibron, 1836) from the North Island and some near-shore islands, and H. tohu n. sp., which was formerly widespread throughout the South Island but is presently restricted to some islands in the Cook Strait region. H. delcour...

Comprehensive assessments of species’ extinction risks have documented the extinction crisis and underpinned strategies for reducing those risks. Global assessments reveal that, among tetrapods, 40.7% of amphibians, 25.4% of mammals and 13.6% of birds are threatened with extinction. Because global assessments have been lacking, reptiles have been o...

Comprehensive assessments of species’ extinction risks have documented the extinction crisis and underpinned strategies for reducing those risks. Global assessments reveal that, among tetrapods, 40.7% of amphibians, 25.4% of mammals and 13.6% of birds are threatened with extinction. Because global assessments have been lacking, reptiles have been o...

Methodological and technological improvements are continually revolutionizing the field of ancient DNA. Most ancient DNA extraction methods require the partial (or complete) destruction of finite museum specimens, which disproportionately impacts small or fragmentary subfossil remains, and future analyses. We present a minimally destructive ancient...

Aim The primary drivers of species and population extirpations have been habitat loss, overexploitation and invasive species, but human‐mediated climate change is expected to be a major driver in future. To minimise biodiversity loss, conservation managers should identify species vulnerable to climate change and prioritise their protection. Here, w...

Methodological and technological improvements are continually revolutionizing the field of ancient DNA. Most ancient DNA extraction methods require the partial (or complete) destruction of finite museum specimens, which disproportionately impacts small or fragmentary subfossil remains, and future analyses. We present a minimally destructive ancient...

New Zealand is home to a diverse cool temperate assemblage of skinks, with 60+ identified taxa (genus Oligosoma Girard), of which only 50 have been formally described. Here we describe a new species (Oligosoma kakerakau sp. nov.) from Bream Head Scenic Reserve, near Whangārei Heads, Northland. This species is considered to be conspecific with a sin...

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous terrestrial Gastropoda (slugs and snails)

Species threat status for some New Zealand groups of landsnails and slugs

Recognizing the imperative to evaluate species recovery and conservation impact, in 2012 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) called for development of a “Green List of Species” (now the IUCN Green Status of Species). A draft Green Status framework for assessing species’ progress toward recovery, published in 2018, proposed 2 s...

The New Zealand endemic gecko genus, Mokopirirakau, is notable for its ecology, with some species inhabiting extreme alpine environments, as well as for the large number of geographically circumscribed, species-level lineages awaiting formal description. In, 2018, a population superficially similar in colour and morphology to the black-eyed gecko (...

Our knowledge of the conservation status of reptiles, the most diverse class of terrestrial vertebrates, has improved dramatically over the past decade, but still lags behind that of the other tetrapod groups. Here, we conduct the first comprehensive evaluation (~92% of the world's ~1714 described species) of the conservation 1 Joint senior authors...

New Zealand’s diplodactylid geckos exhibit high species-level diversity, largely independent of discernible osteological changes. Consequently, systematic affinities of isolated skeletal elements (fossils) are primarily determined by comparisons of size, particularly in the identification of Hoplodactylus duvaucelii, New Zealand’s largest extant ge...

Prehistoric anthropogenically-mediated extinctions have impacted global biodiversity; however effects on herpetofauna are poorly-documented. New Zealand’s Diplodactylidae geckos exhibit high species-level diversity, largely independent of discernible osteological changes (cryptic). Consequently, taxonomic affinities of isolated skeletal elements (f...

A new species of Oligosoma is described from a slate scree in montane tussock grassland in Kahurangi National Park, New Zealand, where it is currently known from a single small site. The new species (Oligosoma kahurangi sp. nov.) can be distinguished from all congeners by its extremely long tail, 36–38 mid-body scale rows, head length/head width ra...

We describe a new species of the New Zealand diplodactylid gecko genus Naultinus. Molecular phylogenetics and distinctive morphological features support taxonomic separation of the populations on the northern half of Aupori Peninsula in the far north of the North Island as a new species, Naultinus flavirictus sp. nov. The specific epithet refers to...

The New Zealand diplodactylid gecko genus Toropuku is currently monotypic, but the sole member of the genus, T. stephensi, is distributed in two disjunct, geographically distant regions of New Zealand – the islands of Cook Strait (which includes the type locality, Stephens Island), between New Zealand’s North and South Islands, and the Coromandel P...

Cities and urban processes typically have a negative impact on biodiversity via land cover change, high rates of disturbance and high densities of pest species. Increasingly, however, people are being encouraged and empowered to reduce these impacts through urban restoration and backyard conservation initiatives. Internationally, lizards are a comm...

can be found throughout the southern hemisphere temperate zone (usually at low elevations up to 230 m), except for South America. Although this species may be experiencing localised declines in specific areas within its range, it remains widespread and abundant throughout its southern hemisphere range and is therefore assessed as Least Concern.

Galaxias brevipinnis is a large, cryptic, nocturnal galaxiid that is known from south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. Although G. brevipinnis may still be experiencing localised population declines in some parts of its range, the rate of decline has slowed significantly and the species is widely distributed throughout its current range. It is th...

New Zealand has a diverse skink fauna, comprising 45 described native species, and at least 15 undescribed taxa, within the single genus Oligosoma Girard, 1857. One of the earliest described, and best known, species is the speckled skink, Oligosoma infrapunctatum (Boulenger 1887). Despite a relatively stable taxonomic history for nearly 114 years,...

The conservation status of all known New Zealand amphibian taxa was assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). A full list is presented, along with a quantitative summary and brief notes on the most important changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for frogs.

Field guide to New Zealand's reptile and amphibians (tuatara, geckos, skinks, frogs, marine turtles and marine snakes). http://www.press.auckland.ac.nz/en/browse-books/all-books/books-2018/reptiles-and-amphibians-of-new-zealand.html

The conservation status of all known New Zealand chondrichthyan taxa (chimaeras, sharks and rays) was reassessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). Since the last assessment (in 2005), 9 new taxa have been added to the list, 6 have been removed from it and 30 have had name changes. Also, 1 previously Data Deficient taxon is...

The conservation status of all known New Zealand bat taxa was reassessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). A full list is presented, along with brief notes on the most important changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for bats. Of the seven taxa assessed, one taxon was classed as Nationally Critical (New Zeala...

New Zealand has a diverse, endemic skink fauna, which is recognised as the most species rich skink assemblage of any cool temperate region on earth. All native New Zealand skink species are assigned to a single genus, Oligosoma Girard. A new species of Oligosoma is described from screes in montane tussock grassland in the mid-Canterbury high countr...

The second complete audit of the conservation status of the 487 taxa of birds that have been recorded in New Zealand since first human contact (about 800 years ago) was carried out. Using the same ranking criteria, the assessments made in the audit were compared with those for the 473 taxa included in the first complete audit in 2012. Since then, 1...

Abstract The conservation status of 202 New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera taxa) was assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). Nine taxa and six undescribed entities that were not included in previous assessments have been added to the list. The conservation status of 26 taxa has changed in this assessment. Al...

Conservation actions are heavily influenced by value judgements and cultural perceptions. The huge lizard fauna of New Zealand played a prominent role in the worldview of the first people (Māori), but appeared to be poorly appreciated by European settlers. Early legislation to protect native fauna explicitly excluded lizards, which remained unprote...

New Zealand has a diverse lizard fauna, comprising diplodactylid geckos and skinks and over 100 recognised species or taxa. Geckos are thought to have colonised New Zealand during the Eocene or Oligocene (40.2–24.4 mya), prior to the ‘Oligocene drowning’ event. In contrast, skinks reached New Zealand during the Miocene (~18.3 mya) via long-distance...

The New Zealand lizard fauna is limited to two families, diplodactylid geckos and Eugongylinae skinks. Although its higher-level taxonomic diversity is limited, each family is highly speciose (61 extant skink and 43 extant gecko species). New Zealand lizards are characterised by their ecological, rather than morphological, diversity, which has impe...

Mainland sanctuaries, where introduced mammalian predators are controlled or excluded, have the potential to improve the conservation status of New Zealand lizards. This is due to the reliance of a large number of species on habitats unavailable on offshore islands. However, despite considerable predator control efforts, lizard populations are stil...

The conservation status of all known New Zealand marine mammal taxa was reassessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) during a meeting on 8 May 2013. A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the most important changes. Twelve species are ranked Data Deficient, 8 Threatened (5 Nationally C...

The largest extant New Zealand gecko, Hoplodactylus duvaucelii (Duvaucel's Gecko), is a nocturnal, viviparous species of conservation concern. Hoplodactylus duvaucelii, once widespread throughout New Zealand, is now confined to offshore islands, the majority of which are free from all introduced mammalian predators (mice, rats, cats, mustelids, bru...

New Zealand's diverse lizard fauna is under threat, particularly from predation by invasive mammals and ongoing habitat destruction. Advances in genetic techniques have greatly enhanced our understanding of the lizard fauna. Previously sparse island populations of species have recovered strongly following eradication of pest mammals and translocati...

The conservation status of all known New Zealand Megascolecid earthworm taxa (179 taxa) was assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the most important changes. 105 taxa are ranked Data Deficient, 1 Declining, 31 Naturally Uncommon, 40 Not Thre...

Australia and New Zealand are home to a remarkable and unique assemblage of flora and fauna. Sadly though, by virtue of their long isolation, and a naïve and vulnerable biota, both countries have suffered substantial losses to biodiversity since European contact. Bringing together the contributions of leading conservation biologists, Austral Ark pr...

The conservation status of a proportion of all known New Zealand marine invertebrate taxa was reassessed in June 2013 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) criteria. A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the most important changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for marine in...

The New Zealand bryophyte flora is highly diverse with latest figures for the number of formally described species recognized being 534 mosses, 616 liverworts and 13 hornworts. A relatively high percentage of the bryophyte species is considered to be endemic (c. 21% of mosses, c. 50% of hepatics, and c. 60% of hornworts). Additionally, the New Zeal...

Although the New Zealand skink fauna is known to be highly diverse, a substantial proportion of the recognised species remain undescribed. We completed a taxonomic revision of the ornate skink (Oligosoma ornatum (Gray, 1843)) as a previous molecular study indicated that it represented a species complex. As part of this work we have resolved some no...

The first complete audit of the conservation status of the 473 taxa of birds that have been recorded in New Zealand since first human contact (about 1000 years ago) was carried out. Using the same ranking criteria, the assessments made in the audit were compared with those made in 2008 for the 428 taxa recorded post-1800. A total of 20 taxa moved t...

The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below was reassessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the most important changes. This 2012 list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plant...

The conservation status of all known New Zealand reptile taxa was reassessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the most important changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for reptiles.

Effective and targeted conservation action requires detailed information about species, their distribution, systematics and ecology as well as the distribution of threat processes which affect them. Knowledge of reptilian diversity remains surprisingly disparate, and innovative means of gaining rapid insight into the status of reptiles are needed i...

The first listing of the conservation status of lichens indigenous to the New Zealand Botanical Region (excluding Macquarie Island) is presented. The list comprises 1799 formally accepted taxa placed in the following categories: ‘Threatened’, 11 taxa (comprising 4 taxa Nationally Critical, 4 Nationally Endangered, 3 Nationally Vulnerable); ‘At Risk...

A total of 27 taxa from taxonomic groups with few species, or that are less well known, are listed as Threatened, 50 taxa are At Risk, 110 taxa are Data Deficient and three taxa are Extinct. Thirteen taxa are Nationally Critical: Aceria clianthi; Eriophyoidea incertae (Acari); Cryptops sp.; Haasiella sp. (Chilopoda); Burmjapyx sp. (Diplura); Hirudo...

The objectives of the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) are summarised together with the methods used to classify taxa as Threatened, At Risk, Data Deficient and Extinct. An analysis is provided of the threat rankings of 3838 New Zealand terrestrial invertebrate taxa that were assessed between 2009 and 2011. Overall, 193 taxa were Th...

The threat status of Diptera in New Zealand was assessed. Only one species, Gynoplistia pedestris (Tipulidae), is classified as Nationally Vulnerable. One species is Declining (Mystacinobia zelandica (Mystacinobiidae)), 144 are classified as Naturally Uncommon and a further 90 are Data Deficient. Most of the Diptera classified are described species...

Forty-five New Zealand beetles (Coleoptera) in 37 families are classified as Threatened: 35 taxa in 10 families are Nationally Critical, seven taxa in five families are Nationally Endangeredand three taxa in separate families are Nationally Vulnerable. A further 267 taxa in 31 families are At Risk, consisting mostly (91%) of Naturally Uncommon taxa...

We classify three New Zealand spiders (Araneae) as Threatened: Maloides cavernicola (Amaurobiidae) and Zealoctenus cardronaensis (Miturgidae) as Nationally Critical; and Maniho centralis (Amphinectidae) as Nationally Endangered. There are 155 At Risk taxa: Latrodectus katipo (Theridiidae) is Declining, seven taxa are R elict and a further 147 taxa...

The conservation status of New Zealand Lepidoptera is revised. Forty-nine taxa are Threatened; consisting of 13 that are Nationally Critical, 9 that are Nationally Endangered and 27 that are Nationally Vulnerable taxa. Another 69 taxa are At Risk (16 Declining, 19 Relict and 34 Naturally Uncommon) and 56 taxa are classified as Data Deficient. No Ne...

The conservation status of New Zealand Hemiptera is revised. One hundred and three taxa are added to the previous threat classification listing. Nine taxa are recorded as Nationally Critical: Aphis nelsonensis; Megoura stufkensi; Paradoxaphis aristoteliae (Aphididae); Umbonichiton jubatus; Umbonichiton pellaspis (Coccidae); Pimeleocoris roseus; Pim...

Two species of New Zealand Hymenoptera, a colletid bee Leioproctus nunui and a gasteruptiid Gasteruption scintillans, are considered Threatened: both are ranked Nationally Critical. Twenty taxa are At Risk, comprising two taxa that are Declining with the remainder classified as Naturally Uncommon. A further 47 taxa are Data Deficient, and 669 known...

Four species of New Zealand Nematoda are considered Nationally Threatened: three are Nationally Critical (Contracaecum eudyptes (Ascarididae), Longidorus waikouaitii (Longidoridae), Radopholus cavenessi (Pratylenchidae)) and one (Cosmocerca archeyi (Cosmocercidae)) is Nationally Vulnerable. Three species are At Risk, comprising two that are Declini...

The conservation status of Gastropoda, excluding taxa in the genus Powelliphanta and those in freshwater, are listed. Forty-seven taxa are Threatened and comprise 28 that are Nationally Critical, 11 that are Nationally Endangered and eight that are Nationally Vulnerable. A further 259 are At Risk, comprising five Declining, 50 Relict and 204 Natura...

Six New Zealand Orthoptera are considered Threatened: Sigaus homerensis is Nationally Critical; Brachaspis robustus and Sigaus “yellow” are Nationally Endangered; while Sigaus “green”, Sigaus “blue” and Hemideina thoracica with a chromosome arrangement of 2n=23/24 are Nationally Vulnerable. Forty taxa are At Risk comprising one Declining (Sigaus mi...

Detailed examination of brown teal skins shows that there is substantial geographic variation in plumage characters within the species. The two surviving populations are distinct from each other. Extinct populations from the southern North Island were very similar to extant populations in the north of the North Island. However, minimal information...

Reference to material in this report should be cited thus:

Clinal variation can result from primary differentiation or secondary contact and determining which of these two processes is responsible for the existence of a cline is not a trivial problem. Samples from a coastal transect of New Zealand geckos (Woodworthia maculata) identified for the first time a body size cline 7-10 km wide. The larger geckos...

'Microbranding', a system for individually identifying reptiles and amphibians based on a numbered code of spot brands applied to the body and limbs, was tested on New Zealand skinks and geckos. Common geckos (Woodworthia maculata) and copper skinks (Oligosoma aeneum) were used as test animals. Brands applied in autumn took 3 months or more to heal...

The threat status of New Zealand's bryophytes (currently 13 hornwort species, 608 liverwort species and 520 moss species) has been re-evaluated, using revised New Zealand Threat Classification System criteria. Threatened or uncommon status has been applied to 269 taxa (c. 24% of the total number of species) and to 25 entities that are either descri...

The New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) is a national system used to assess the risk of extinction faced by New Zealand plants, animals and fungi. The system is specifically designed to be relevant to New Zealand's unusual ecological and geographic conditions. We undertook a re-evaluation of the status of seven bat taxa based on our kn...

The threat status of 74 freshwater and estuarine fish present in New Zealand was determined. Fifty-one native taxa were ranked of which 67% were considered Threatened or At Risk. A single species was classified as Extinct, the New Zealand grayling, which has not been observed since the 1920s. Four taxa were classified in the highest threat category...

The purpose of this application, under Article 75.6 of the Code, is to conserve the specific name of the name Oligosoma aeneum (Girard, 1857), widely used for a species of New Zealand skink, commonly known as the copper skink. We have found Tiliqua ornata Gray, 1843 (currently Oligosoma ornatum) to be a senior subjective synonym and the oldest avai...