FWC Home Wildlife & Habitats Species Information Imperiled Species Living with Wildlife Nonnative Species Invasive Plants Wildlife Legacy Habitat Information Wildlife Assistance
Wildlife Diseases

White-spotted Wall Gecko - Tarentola annularis

Florida's Exotic Wildlife. Species detail.

First year: 1990s

Extirpated year:

Established status: Species are present and breeding but for less than 10 years.

Estimated Florida range: 2 counties Less than 10 years, 1 county Not reported breeding

Statewide trend: Unknown status

Threats to natives: May prey upon smaller lizards (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999).

Species Account: This robust North African species reaches a total length of 15 cm (6 in). It is grayish or sand colored with 4 white, tuberculate spots on the shoulders. It is heavy-jowled and predaceous on other lizards and invertebrates. Individuals can be found on the walls of buildings at night where they have been released or escaped from the pet trade, but hatchlings have not yet been observed (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999).

Habitats: Central or core urban area

County	First Year	Extirpated Year	Breeding status	Notes
DADE	1990s		Less than 10 years	Warehouse complexes (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999)
LEE	1990s		Less than 10 years	Warehouse complexes (Bartlett and Bartlett 1999)
LEON	1999		Not reported breeding	Pet store in Tallahassee, where it has outcompeted Tokay geckos on outside walls of the building (K. Enge, FFWCC, Quincy, Florida, pers. obs.)

References

Bartlett, R. D., and P. P. Bartlett. 1999. A field guide to Florida reptiles and amphibians. Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas. 278pp.

Back to Nonnative Reptiles

Our mission: Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.