Tarentola mauritanica
Wall Gecko ( Tarentola mauritanica )
The Wall Gecko ( Tarentola mauritanica ) is a gecko species in the genus Tarentola.
Description
The snout-vent length for males up to 84 mm and of females up to 75 mm. The head of the male is strong and broad as it is significantly narrower in females. Rückentuberkel are mono-or poly keeled and staffed with sensilla. Around them, there is one rosette, which is pronounced and a horseshoe. The scales of these rosettes are of intermediate size. The remaining dorsal scales, however, are relatively large. To the center of its body are 98-162 scales. In a Vertebrallinie between the rear edges of the leg approaches are 24 to 34 small Rückentuberkel. From Mental to the area of the ear openings are 28 to 46 Gularschuppen available. On the bottom of the first toe are up to the base of the toe 10 to 14 and a total of 13-17 enlarged scales and fins. The bottom of the fourth toe to toe base has 12 to 20 scales, which are usually all widened, and the bottom of the fifth toe to toe base 16 to 20 scales.
Distribution and habitat
Wall Geckos are found in the Mediterranean, in Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, the Balearic Islands, in Italy, but there is not in the interior, in Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica, Dalmatia, Malta, the Ionian Islands and Crete. They also populated North Africa from Morocco to Egypt, the Sinai and the Canary Islands. After Uruguay and California, they have been introduced by man. Wall Geckos are synanthropic, which often colonize walls in villages and small towns. In addition, they inhabit rocky areas and can also be found on the bark of gnarled old olive trees.
Behavior
They are largely nocturnal, but are often seen during the day on walls while sunbathing. They are usually dark in color to absorb as much heat. Always keep on near a column or other hiding place in which they can escape in case of danger. The geckos are eaten by domestic cats, owls, snakes and mantids.
Wall geckos eat a variety of insects, such as moths, flies, beetles, grasshoppers and crickets, but also spiders, woodlice and centipedes. They ambush their prey at night often near lamps because these insects attract.
System
The gecko was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus. There are currently three subspecies are distinguished:
- Tarentola mauritanica juliae Joger 1984
- Tarentola mauritanica mauritanica (Linnaeus 1758)
- Tarentola mauritanica pallida Eulalie et al. 1999
The type Tarentola fascicularis ( Daudin, 1802) was also formerly regarded as a subspecies of wall geckos, but in 2010 recognized as a separate species.
Reproduction
Wall Geckos place twice a year, two eggs in crevices in walls, between rocks or in sandy soil. After three to four months slip 5 -inch-long hatchlings that look just exactly like the adult animals and can be up to 8 years in captivity.