---
title: "Muurgekko"
description: "Tarentola mauritanica — Reptielen. Tarentola mauritanica, known as the common wall gecko, is a species of gecko (Gekkota) native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/nl/animal/moorish-gecko
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Muurgekko

> Tarentola mauritanica — Reptielen. Tarentola mauritanica, known as the common wall gecko, is a species of gecko (Gekkota) native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe.

- Scientific name: *Tarentola mauritanica*
- Category: `reptiles` (Reptielen)
- Habitats: `urban` (Steden en tuinen)
- iNaturalist observations: 47880
- Wikidata: [Q901720](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q901720)
- iNaturalist taxon: [33602](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/33602)

## Names

- en: Moorish Gecko
- de: Mauergecko
- es: Salamanquesa Común
- fr: Tarente de Maurétanie
- nl: Muurgekko
- pt: Osga-moura
- pl: Gekon murowy

## Countries with the most observations

IT (12621), ES (12431), FR (9275), PT (6230), AR (1441), MA (818), US (734), GR (726), MT (339), DZ (324), TN (149), HR (143)

## Summary

Tarentola mauritanica, known as the common wall gecko, is a species of gecko (Gekkota) native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe. It has been introduced to Madeira and Balearic Islands, and the Americas (in Montevideo, Buenos Aires and California). A nocturnal animal with a predominantly insectivorous diet, it is commonly observed on walls in urban environments in warm coastal areas; it can be found further inland, especially in Spain where it has a tradition of cohabitation with humans as an insect hunter. A robust species, up to 15 cm (6 inches) long, its tubercules are enlarged and give…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarentola_mauritanica

## Photo

![Muurgekko](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/moorish-gecko/medium.jpg)

Photo: Kat · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/368160186

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/moorish-gecko?lang=nl` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).