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Reptiles and Amphibians of
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Introduced - not native to California
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The above photos are all views of a single adult gecko found on a building in Kings County.
All © Patrick Briggs
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| Description |
Size |
| Adults grow up to 6 inches long (15 cm) including the tail. Usually around 3.2 inches long (8 cm) from snout to vent. |
| Appearance |
A robust-bodied lizard with a flat head, prominent tubercles on the upper surfaces, large bulging eyes with vertical pupils and no eyelids, and elongated toe pads. Regenerated tails do not grow tubercles.
Color is brownish, grey or sandy with dark and light markings. Color changes from dark during daytime to light phase at night. The underside is white to yellow. Young geckos have dark bands. |
| Behavior |
| Nocturnal, but also known to bask in the sun during cooler parts of the year. A good climber. Males defending territories make squeaking calls. |
| Diet |
| Eats small invertebrates and possibly small vertebrates. Often seen foraging for food under artificial light sources. |
| Reproduction |
| In its native habitat, 2 - 3 clutches of 1 or 2 eggs are laid around April and June. These geckos take several years to reach sexual maturity. |
| Range |
This lizard has been introduced and established in San Diego County, California.
(Mahrdt, 1998, Herpetol. Rev. 29: 52)
Native to the coastal Mediterranean are of Europe and Africa. Also possibly established in Florida. |
| Habitat |
Found in its native habitat on stone walls, boulders, and piles of wood in warm, dry, lowland coastal areas. In Florida, found on outside walls and cinderblock fences.
Usually under 400m, but found up to 1,400 m. |
| Conservation Issues (Conservation Status) |
| None. |
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Taxonomy |
| Family |
Gekkonidae |
Geckos |
| Genus |
Tarentola |
Wall Geckos |
Species
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mauritanica |
Moorish Wall Gecko |
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Original description |
| Linnaeus 1758 |
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Meaning of the Scientific Name |
Tarentola = Taranto (a city in Italy)
Mauritanica - Latin - "Mauritanian" - from Mauritania |
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Alternate Names |
Moorish Gecko
Common Wall Gecko
Salamanquesa
Crocodile Gecko
European Common Gecko
Maurita Naca Gecko
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Related or Similar California Lizards |
Hemidactylus turcicus - Mediterranean House Gecko
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More Information and References and Pictures |
Natureserve Explorer
Herp.It
Club 100.net
Gecko Web
Stebbins, Robert C., and McGinnis, Samuel M. Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of California: Revised Edition (California Natural History Guides) University of California Press, 2012.
Bartlett, Richard D. & Patricia Bartlett. A Field Guide to Florida Reptiles and Amphibians. Gulf Publishing, 1999.
Arnold, E. Nicholas. Reptiles and Amphibians of Europe. Princeton University Press, 2002.
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The following status listings come from the Special Animals List which is published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
There are no significant conservation concerns for this non-native animal in California.
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Organization
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Status Listing
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| U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) |
None |
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| California Endangered Species Act (CESA) |
None |
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| California Department of Fish and Wildlife |
None |
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| Bureau of Land Management |
None |
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| USDA Forest Service |
None |
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| Natureserve Global Conservation Status Ranks |
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World Conservation Union - IUCN Red List
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