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 ~80% in a week >90%
118 Verified sightings at Doñana National Park From 2019 to 2026
341 In all 7 parks
September 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 Doñana National Park
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 Doñana National Park
No species of the same family or order lives in Doñana National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Moorish Gecko in Doñana National Park?
Likely
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Moorish Gecko sighting in Doñana National Park on a given day, based on 118 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the most-seen of the 14 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Moorish Gecko in Doñana National Park?
September
In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Moorish Gecko in Doñana National Park on a given day, against under 5% in December, the lowest month. That is one of Doñana National Park's driest months, with about 20 mm of rain against 90 mm in October.
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 Doñana National Park the best place to see a Moorish Gecko?
Yes
Of the 7 parks where we can rate Moorish Gecko sightings, Doñana National Park has the highest daily chance: about 50%. Next come Monfragüe National Park (Spain, about 40%) and Sierra Nevada National Park (Spain, about 40%). All parks ranked.
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 Doñana National Park (118 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
