English: Turkish gecko
Scientific: Hemidactylus turcicus
Castilian: Salamanquesa rosada
Catalan: Dragó rosat
Portuguese: Osga-turca

Family: Gekkonidae
Distribution: Mediterranean basin close to warm coastal areas

This Gecko is less widespread than the more common Moorish Gecko. It is confined to Southern Portugal and the Mediterranean coastal zone. It is a more slender lizard with a finer head and overall pink tones with far fewer spikes. The definitive difference is that this gecko has claws on each toe whereas the Moorish gecko has well developed claws on only the third and fourth digits.

The overall length of Hemidactylus turcicus can reach 12cm but the body length is normally 50 to 53mm. The tail often has black and pink banding, with the body mottled sandy, pink and somewhat translucent tones. Their food consists of nocturnal insects, small spiders and larvae.

These Geckos inhabit similar areas to the Moorish gecko and even share the same places including stone walls, tree trunks, ruins, barns and dwellings. They are not likely to be found at more than 300m above sea level, preferring a warmer mean temperature. Although crepuscular and nocturnal in their hunting habits they can be seen basking in the sun occasionally.

Breeding takes place between April and July. The small, soft shelled, white eggs will be deposited in cracks in walls, under rocks and in soil. They are around 8-9mm by 10-11mm in size and may be single or two together. The incubation can be from forty days to a little over three months depending on temperatures.

Click here for link to similar species Moorish Gecko, Tarentola mauritanica.

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