Records of foreign reptiles and amphibians accidentally imported to New Zealand

Analysis of 189 records of reptiles and amphibians accidentally imported to New Zealand between 1929 and 2000 showed that 52 species were represented, comprising lizards (65%, mainly geckos), snakes (19%, mainly colubrids) and anurans (16%, mainly hylid frogs). Three species of nocturnal, egg-laying, tropical and subtropical house geckos from Asia and the Pacific (especially Hemidactylus frenatus) made up 35% of all interceptions. The predominance of H. frenatus is a new development since the mid 1980s. Ectoparasitic mites were noted at 17% of gecko interceptions. Interceptions were nearly always of single animals, and were evenly spread throughout the year. The main sources of the accidental importations were Australia (26%), south-east Asia (24%) and the south-west Pacific (22%). About three-quarters of the intercepted animals were from the tropics or subtropics. Three-quarters of the animals arrived in cargo shipped to wharves, and Auckland was the entry point for about half the interceptions. The main types of cargo involved were personal effects (21%), bananas (16%), timber (10%), and motor vehicles (9%). Nearly half the intercepted animals (47%) had passed through border controls and were detected after distribution of the cargo. Animals were alive when detected in about 86% of cases.