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Predicting the invasion of the common wall gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) in the southern cone of South America

David Gustavo Vera,I. Berkunsky,Micaela Harkes,Borja Baguette Pereiro,M. Rolón,D. D. Di Pietro,F. Kacoliris

Published 2025 in Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT The common wall gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) has invaded three regions globally: the Azores and Madeira archipelagos, the subtropical and temperate regions of North America, and the south of South America. The information about the invasion in South America is limited, and records suggest rapid expansion in the continent’s south. In this work, we modeled the gecko’s distribution in its native range to identify potential invasion sites in the Southern Cone of South America, updating its geographic distribution and assessing their potential threat to native South American geckos. The most contributive variables in the Species Distribution Model included precipitation of the driest quarter, minimum temperature of the coldest month, and temperature seasonality. The habitat suitable for the expansion of geckos in the Southern Cone covers 1,397,558.36 km2, with the highest being in the north-central part of Argentina. The species Homonota taragui, Homonota williamsii, and Homonota whitii had the greatest degree of overlap with the suitable habitat of T. mauritanica, requiring particular caution against future introductions. This underscores the importance of understanding and mitigating the risks associated with the invasive potential of T. mauritanica in the Southern Cone of South America, specially to the endemic and endangered species, living in rocky areas.

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