Completed
Moorish Gecko
Tarentola mauritanica
Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyPhyllodactylidae (Phyllodactylid Geckos)
- GenusTarentola (Wall Geckos)
- SpeciesTarentola mauritanica (Moorish Gecko)
In 3 days ~70% in a week ~90%
717 Verified sightings at Buenos Aires
341 In all 7 parks From 2019 to 2026
March Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted
About the Moorish Gecko
Tarentola mauritanica, known as the common wall gecko, is a species of gecko (Gekkota) native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe. It has been introduced to Madeira and Balearic Islands, and the Americas (in Montevideo, Buenos Aires and California). A nocturnal animal with a predominantly insectivorous diet, it is commonly observed on walls in urban environments in warm coastal areas; it can be found further inland, especially in Spain where it has a tradition of cohabitation with humans as an insect hunter. A robust species, up to 15 cm (6 inches) long, its tubercules are enlarged and give the species a spiny armoured appearance.
The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is also known as Moorish gecko, crocodile gecko, European common gecko, and, regionally, as tarantola, osga, salamanquesa, and dragó. Adults can measure up to 15 cm (6 inches), tail included. Robust body and flat head. Back, legs and tail with prominent conic tubercles. Its regenerated tail is smoother and doesn't have tubercles. Obtuse mouth, big eyes with no eyelids and vertical pupil. Fingers with big lateral growths and adherent division less laminae... Wikipedia →
Sounds
Recording1:29
Portugal · 2023
© Alexandra Galão · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:05
Portugal · 2025
© pmalvito · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recent sightings of Moorish Gecko in Buenos Aires
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doñana National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 2 | Monfragüe National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 3 | Sierra Nevada National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 4 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 5 | Mercantour National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 6 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 7 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZooParc de Beauval | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 2 | California Academy of Sciences | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Tallinn Zoo | 🇪🇪 Estonia |
Closest Relatives at Buenos Aires
No species of the same family or order lives in Buenos Aires, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Moorish Gecko in Buenos Aires?
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Moorish Gecko sighting in Buenos Aires on a given day, based on 717 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 22 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Moorish Gecko in Buenos Aires?
November to April
In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Moorish Gecko in Buenos Aires on a given day, against about 10% in June and July, the lowest months.
What time of day is best to see a Moorish Gecko?
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Moorish Gecko sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
Is Buenos Aires the best place to see a Moorish Gecko?
13th of 23
Of the 23 cities where we can rate Moorish Gecko sightings, Buenos Aires ranks 13th at about 30%. The best odds are in Tunis (Tunisia, about 70%), Naples (Italy, about 70%) and Rome (Italy, about 50%).
Where does the Moorish Gecko sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Moorish Gecko is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Buenos Aires (717 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
