Gecko Characteristics
This small reptile is famous in the Mediterranean basin, where it receives different names. In this article, we will talk about the main characteristics of the gecko, which belongs to the gecko family.
Moorish gecko habitat
The gecko’s scientific name is Tarentola mauritanica , but it can be called different ways depending on where you are.
Although it is native to the Iberian Peninsula, it was introduced to several islands, such as the Balearic Islands, the Azores and the Canaries. It was also taken to the American continent: Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, Argentina and the United States.
Generally, the Moorish gecko inhabits old structures, buildings, abandoned houses or cars, rocks, tree trunks, debris, ruins, sheds … It can be found in various environments.
Description
As adults, these reptiles can measure between 5 and 15 centimeters, with a tail of equal or greater length. The back, legs and tail have prominent conical bulges. If it loses its tail, it will have the ability to regenerate it, but the ‘new tail’ will not have these bulges.
At each end, it has five fingers covered by bottom and side bulges that allow it to cling to all kinds of surfaces and scale or move in vertical locations, including glass and crystals.
It should be noted that, unlike the gecko, the ‘common’ subspecies has nails on only two fingers (the others have nails on all fingers).
The common color of this representative of the gecko family is brownish gray or brown, although gray, whitish or black specimens can also be found. In all cases, the belly is lighter than the top.
Another interesting point of the gecko is that the skin color varies according to the light it receives. This way, during the day it is darker than at night.
Gecko food and behavior
This reptile is nocturnal, but begins its activity at dusk in summer or late in winter. He prefers sunny places close to his hiding place as he is a cold-blooded animal and needs heat to regulate his body temperature. In areas where winter conditions are extreme, it hibernates until late spring.
As for food, it eats insects (crickets, flies, moths, spiders, ants, mosquitoes, etc.), which it hunts by positioning itself near lights or lamps. If food is scarce, it can devour smaller specimens of its kind.
Twice a year, females incubate two rounded, thick-shelled eggs for four months. Puppies measure less than two centimeters and grow slowly: they live for about eight years. To interact with each other, they emit sounds and squeaks. It is a very territorial animal that fiercely defends its home and hunting area.
Some people choose to have a gecko as a pet in a terrarium and feed it live insects or larvae. Its care is very simple and requires almost no maintenance. However, they are not “pets” that we can lock in an aquarium; we must allow them to live in freedom.
