The Giant New Zealand Gecko - Kawekaweauowlice wrote:Oh, very cool, geckzilla! I've seen only pics of leucistic robins; have never seen one with mine own eyes.
<<In 1986 in the basement of the Marseille Museum of Natural History a primative type specimen of a large gecko was found stuffed, unlabelled, lacking any record of its collection date or its point of origin and judging from the specimen must have been there for over a century. The Maori said the Kawekaweau represented the souls of dead ancestors of anyone who saw it and sighting one was an omen it was that persons time to join them. Thus they were largely avoided and left alone by the Maori. It was described as being about 2 feet long and as thick as a mans wrist.>>
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The Laughing Owl - Hakoke, Whekau
<<Once the maniacal laugh like call of this bird rang through the night forests. The Laughing Owl fed on Lizards, insects and small birds for the plentiful fossilised pellets that have been discovered give clear indication of their diet. It was a ground feeder with sturdy legs that preferred to run its prey down.>>
(NinOX connivens) is a nocturnal bird species native to mainland Australia and parts of Papua New Guinea. The Barking Owl have large eyes that have a yellow iris, a dark brown beak and almost no facial mask. 
