David Element's Wildlife Web Page Reptiles 17

David Element

Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images

__________________________________________________________ Reptiles 17 - Moorish Geckos

MOORISH GECKO Tarentola mauretanica

Moorish Geckos Tarentola mauretanica are often found inhabiting Mediterranean buildings. These rather endearing creatures are very well camouflaged against stone walls (although rather less so on painted surfaces) and they can change colour in response to alterations in ambient temperature. There are numerous small ridges underneath the feet and these allow the lizards to obtain purchase on apparently smooth surfaces. They are even able to run at speed whilst hanging upside-down precariously from ceilings – don’t try this at home! The pupils of the eyes are very responsive to bright light and these will narrow down to a slit during the process of being repeatedly photographed with flash. The second, third and fourth photographs from a nocturnal sequence illustrate this contraction and by the time that the final picture was taken a rather intriguing 'four stacked diamonds' pattern had become evident. In fact these lizards make good use of artificial lights as many insects are attracted to them. The geckos remain motionless nearby and gratefully accept this easy source of food. Most of these photographs were taken in Tuscany (Toscana), Italy, but the final three were taken using natural light (and considerable stealth) in a car park in southern France. The ‘dinosaurial’-looking (and presumably rather elderly) individual in the final photograph had clearly shed its tail and then re-grown it judging from the dramatic change in texture and stumpy appearance!

· David’s films of British reptiles and amphibians may be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AirIEc0Nodlcvlf7oYAJgJo8k7pHJ-A.

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