Assessment of microbranding as an alternative marking technique for long-term identification of New Zealand lizards

摘要: ‘Microbranding’, a system for individually identifying reptiles and amphibians based on numbered code of spot brands applied to the body limbs, was tested New Zealand skinks geckos. Common geckos (Woodworthia maculata) copper (Oligosoma aeneum) were used as test animals. Brands in autumn took 3 months or more heal. There no evidence brand-related mortality increased parasite loads branded However, after healing faded very rapidly become totally unreadable all surviving 2.5 years not accurately readable most years. We therefore consider technique unsuitable standard marking procedure lizards.