Tuatara

A living ark

Maud Island frog

Common name: Maud Island frog
Maori name: pepeketua
Scientific name: Leiopelma pakeka
Status: endemic, endangered

Maud Island frog

Maud Island frog. Photo by Tom Lynch, Karori Sanctuary

The Maud Island frog is one of New Zealand’s four surviving native frog species. The other species are Hochstetter’s frog, Archey’s frog and Hamilton’s frog – all of which are nationally endangered.

All four native species have directly descended from frogs which evolved several hundred million years ago – they date back to dinosaur days!

There are approximately 20,000 Maud Island frogs left in New Zealand living on a few offshore islands.

In February 2006 a transfer of Maud Island frogs to the Sanctuary saw their return to a natural environment on mainland New Zealand for the first time in many hundreds of years. In February 2008 the first froglets hatched in the Sanctuary - the first froglets to hatch on the mainland in the wild - a significant milestone.

Being nocturnal, almost noiseless and small it is incredibly difficult to see Maud Island frogs. In the Sanctuary, they are living in moist forested areas, such as the habitat along the Te Mahanga and Faultline Tracks.

It's New Zealand Frog Week 28 September - 4 October 2008. Find out about our special nocturnal frog encounters and Freddo Frog Roadshow.