Overview
Sarasin’s Giant Gecko (Correlophus sarasinorum), also known as the Suras Gecko, is a majestic arboreal diplomat of New Caledonia’s ancient Gondwanan ecosystems. Sharing its genus with the celebrated Crested Gecko (Correlophus ciliatus), this much larger, slender-bodied nocturnal lizard inhabits the dense rainforest canopies of southern Grande Terre, utilizing specialized adhesive toe pads and an agile prehensile tail to climb effortless vertical paths through the misty canopy.
Biology and Physical Characteristics
Reaching up to 14 inches in total length, Correlophus sarasinorum exhibits an elongate head with large, lidless marble-patterned eyes and vertical pupils protected by a clear spectacle scale. Its velvety dorsal skin ranges from olive-tan to rich chocolate-brown, frequently displaying a striking white or cream V-shaped chevron marking across the nape. Underneath its digits are microscopic hair-like setae that exploit van der Waals forces, enabling it to adhere to slick wet tree trunks, while its prehensile tail tip acts as a fifth limb.
Behavior and Ecology
Active exclusively after nightfall, Sarasin’s giant gecko spends daylight hours coiled inside deep tree hollows or beneath thick clumps of aerial epiphytes. At dusk, it navigates the mid-story and canopy to feed on sweet forest fruits, nectar, sap, and large insects including katydids and beetles. Unlike crested geckos which readily drop their tails permanently, Sarasin’s gecko can regenerate its tail if detached, an important evolutionary defense against predatory forest birds and snakes.
Conservation and Human Impact
Evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, Correlophus sarasinorum occupies a fragmented, restricted range in southern New Caledonia. Wild populations are threatened by open-cast nickel mining that destroys primary rainforests, human-caused wildfires, and the depredation of eggs and juveniles by invasive introduced mammals such as feral cats, rats, and pigs. Conservation initiatives focus on protecting critical forested corridors in Blue River Provincial Park.
Interesting Factoid
Unlike its close cousin the crested gecko—which permanently loses its tail if dropped—Sarasin’s giant gecko possesses the rare ability among giant island geckos to completely regenerate its prehensile tail if it escapes a predator!
Last updated: October 2026