First reports reveal reptile and amphibian predicament

Auckland Council has just released its Regional Threat Assessment for reptiles and amphibians, the first two in a series of threat assessments for indigenous species in the Auckland region. New Zealand is home to over 123 reptile and amphibian species, with 28 reptile species residing in the Auckland Region; all are endemic, meaning they’re found nowhere else in the world. “Reptiles play an important role in our ecosystems,@ says Sabine Melzer, Senior Bio Information Analyst.