Geckos – protected species

The Island of Rab is the habitat of two Gecko species: Tarentola mauritanica L. (Croatian name: Zidni macaklin-wall gecko) and Hemidactylus turcicus L. (Croatian name: Kućni macaklin – house gecko).

Tarentola mauritanica is a species of gecko (Gekkota) native to the western Mediterranean area of Northwestern Africa and Europe and widely introduced to America and Asia. It is commonly observed on walls in urban environments, mainly in warm coastal areas. However, it can be found further inland, especially in Spain. A robust species, up to 150 millimetres long, its tubercules are enlarged and give the species a spiny armoured appearance.

The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Phyllodactylidae
Genus: Tarentola
Species: T. mauritanica
Binomial name: Tarentola mauritanica (Linnaeus1758)

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Hemidactylus
Species: H. turcicus
Binomial name: Hemidactylus turcicus (Linnaeus1758)

Adults can measure up to 15 cm, 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 in the bottom face. Only the third and fourth fingers end in union. Brownish grey or brown colouration with darker or lighter spots. These colours change in intensity according to the light. When they are active by day their colour is darker than during the night. It can be found on many construction sites, ruins, rock fields, tree trunks, etc

House gecko (hemidactylus turcicus) abide in the countries bordering the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, West Asia. They live in dry areas with gravel and stone walls. They are active at night. Flesh-colored on the lower side, with brown spots and lot of warts, big eyes, vertical pupils, from 8 to 10 cm long. Makes a loud clicking sound when calling to females or fighting other males.

Wall gecko (tarentola mauritanica) abide in the western part of the Mediterranean, Dalmatian, the Ionian Island, and Crete in the east. They live in dry, sunny and rocky areas. Likes staying in gardens and on houses. Loves the sun. Light-grey, brown or black on the upper side, with several rows of scales, cream-colored on the lower side, stocky and flat, vertical pupils, from 10 to 19 cm long. Lays sticky, soft-shelled eggs; the young hatch only after 120 days. Quite hissing.

Geckos are small lizards of the family Gekkonidae. After a juicy bite, they lick their face and eyes clean with their long tongue. Like all the other lizards of this family, gecko do not have any eyelids. That is why their impertinent gaze may make you feel uneasy. They can jump great distances and climb vertical surfaces on their unusual legs. Killing geckos is illegal and punishable by law.