RICHARD MUIRHEAD: THE `KAWEKAWEAU` ANOTHER GIANT LIZARD IN NEW ZEALAND.PART ONE

According to The Dear Leader (Kim Jong Il Jon Downes to you living outside North Korea), The Great Leader (Kim Il Sung Richard Freeman) has already commented upon the Kawekaweau, a giant gecko, which may still inhabit the Gisborne Region of New Zealand, in his piece on cryptids in museums However, I have a bit of information on the Kawekaweau that may not have seen widespread publicity. Since the spring of 1990 when news emerged that a museum in Marseille was transfering its specimen of the kawekaweau to New Zealand the track of this cryptid has gone cold as far as I am aware.

However, I have today emailed the National Museum of New Zealand in Wellington to ask if Tony Whitaker has found out any more information on the status of the Kawekaweau (Hoplodactylus delcourti) especially in the Tolaga Bay area of East Cape. Anthony H. Whitaker was located at the Natural History Unit, National Museum, Wellington, in 1990. If I get a reply I will try and remember to let you know.

According to Bauer and Russell: 'Examination by Aaron M.Bauer revealed that the specimen represents a new species of the genus Hoplodactylus, until now, known only from New Zealand. Subsequent inquiry has revealed a possible connection between the specimen and the kawekaweau of Maori legend. The huge size of the specimen extends our conception of the morphological extremes attainable by gekkonid lizards. It further suggests questions regarding conservation of native reptiles,and the investigation of rare or recently extinct taxa.' (1)

The authors later go on to comment on the origin of the specimen. Refering to the Musee d`Histoire Naturelle de Marseille: 'The collection locality of the specimen is in doubt. Although no data exist, the morphology of the specimen limits the area of possible origin, as it represents a member of a limited radiation of the subfamily Diplodactylinae...in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The first possibilty is that the animal originated in the French island territory of New Caledonia....An alternative hypothesis of a New Zealand origin for Hoplodactylus delcourti would be consistent with current ideas regarding the distribution of this genus, and would not be inconsistent with the history of many areas of the North Island, particularly in the Bay of Islands...The contention that the specimen is from New Zealand is also supported by some historical and anecdotal records from both Maori and European sources. A number of the older descriptions of the lizards of Maori legend are suggestive of the new species. The most valuable information comes from Mair (1873-2) who commented on "the existence of a large forest lizard", called by the Maoris kaweau." He continues, "In 1870 an Urewera chief killed one under the loose bark of a dead rata,in the Waimana Valley, he described it to me as being about two feet long and as thick as a man`s wrist; colour brown, striped longitudinally with dull red."'(3)

Due to the quantity of source material available, this blog will continue on Wednesday 16th Dec.

1. A.M.Bauer and A.P.Russell. Hoplodactylus delcourti n.sp (Reptilia:Gekkonidae)the largest known gecko.New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 1986 vol 13. p.141
2. W.G.Mair.1873 Notes on Rurima Rocks.Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 5:151-153
3. Bauer and Russell.Ibid.p.146