European leaf-toed gecko

Description:

I found this little gecko on the doorstep. The European leaf-toed gecko can grow to a length of about 8 cm (3 in) but 6 centimetres (2.4 in) is a more usual size. The head is diamond-shaped, wide and somewhat flattened and the pupils of the large eyes are vertical slits. The body is quite plump and the limbs are short in relation to the length of the body. There are suction pads on the tips of its squarish toes and it is a superb climber. The tail is as long as the body. When the tail has been lost and a new one has been regenerated, it can be twice as thick as the original one. The skin is slightly granular but lacks tubercles, a fact which distinguishes the species from other European geckos. The colour is quite variable, ranging from yellowish brown to greyish brown, patterned and blotched with yellow, often in transverse streaks. Like other geckos, the European leaf-toed gecko can change colour and tends to be a paler colour when conditions are hot and a darker colour when conditions are cooler.

Habitat:

It is found in coastal regions of France, Italy and Tunisia and on Mediterranean islands. Its natural habitats are rocky areas and rocky shores. It's found on Corsica and Sardinia and various other Mediterranean islands including some off Tunisia, as well as in a few locations in southern France near the coast and similar locations in Tuscany in northern Italy. Its mainly island distribution may indicate a relatively recent contraction of its range. It is inconspicuous and mainly nocturnal and is found on rocks, walls, boulders and crags, especially on granite. It is not often found in occupied buildings but may be found on ruins or occasionally on the trunks of trees. It is usually found at low levels but in warmer conditions may be found up to an altitude of about 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). In the daytime it often hides behind rock flakes and in cracks and has been found at densities of up to 200 animals per square metre.

Notes:

The European leaf-toed gecko is very agile and can jump considerable distances. It feeds on insects and other small invertebrates and often stalks its prey, approaching very slowly before making a final leap. In the daytime it may bask in the sun on rocks where it is well camouflaged. It is preyed on by birds and snakes.