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 ~20% in a week ~40%
9 Verified sightings at Santiago
341 In all 7 parks From 2019 to 2026
February 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 Santiago
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 Santiago
No species of the same family or order lives in Santiago, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Moorish Gecko in Santiago?
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Moorish Gecko sighting in Santiago on a given day, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 7th most-seen of the 8 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Moorish Gecko in Santiago?
February
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Moorish Gecko in Santiago on a given day, against under 5% in April–July and October–November, the lowest months. That is one of Santiago's driest months, with about 10 mm of rain against 65 mm in June.
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 Santiago the best place to see a Moorish Gecko?
19th of 23
Of the 23 cities where we can rate Moorish Gecko sightings, Santiago ranks 19th at about 10%. 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 Santiago (9 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.
