Distribution of the Mediterranean gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) in Texas

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorBassett, Lawrence G.
dc.contributor.authorZughaiyir, Ferris E.
dc.contributor.authorForstner, Michael R. J.
dc.date.accessioned2021-04-26T14:00:41Z
dc.date.available2021-04-26T14:00:41Z
dc.date.issued2021-04
dc.description.abstractThe Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) is a small (10 – 12.7 cm total length) nocturnal gekkonid lizard native to southern Europe, northern Africa, and far-west Asia. It has been introduced to many areas outside its native range and has established numerous populations throughout the United States. The first report of H. turcicus from Texas was from Cameron County in 1955. Since then, H. turcicus has become established throughout much of the state and new county occurrence records continue to be published regularly. Despite the efforts of numerous herpetologists, the distribution of H. turcicus within Texas remains poorly known. The last county-delineated state-wide distribution map was published in 2013 and was promptly made obsolete with the publication of 16 Texas county records in 2014. In total, 55 Texas county records have been published for H. turcicus since the last state-wide distribution map was printed. We provide an updated state-wide distribution map and report on our efforts to elucidate the distribution of H. turcicus in Texas. From 2019 – 2021, we travelled to 23 Texas counties to search for H. turcicus. Nocturnal surveys were conducted in each county around anthropogenic structures in urban habitats. Mediterranean geckos were found in 21 counties and voucher specimens were deposited at the Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center at the University of Texas at Arlington. Our findings demonstrate substantial range expansion of H. turcicus in Texas. Further surveys should be conducted throughout the state as conspicuous gaps in our distribution map exist. Special attention should be given to H. turcicus populations occupying semi-natural habitats in west Texas and determining interactions between this non-native lizard and the native herpetofauna.
dc.description.departmentBiology
dc.formatImage
dc.format.extent1 page
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationBassett, L. G., Zughaiyir, F. E., & Forstner, M. R. J. (2021). Distribution of the Mediterranean gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) in Texas. Poster presented at the International Research Conference for Graduate Students, San Marcos, Texas.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/13430
dc.language.isoen
dc.sourceInternational Research Conference for Graduate Students, 2021, San Marcos, Texas, United States.
dc.subjectMediterranean gecko
dc.subjectHemidactylus turcicus
dc.subjectpopulations
dc.titleDistribution of the Mediterranean gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) in Texas
dc.typePoster

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Distribution_of_the_Mediterranean_gecko_in_Texas_Bassett_et_al_2021.pdf
Size:
434.22 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.54 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
bassett-form.csv
Size:
929 B
Format:
Unknown data format
Description:
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
TXST_International_research_conference_abstract_March_2021_final_Bassett.pdf
Size:
85.94 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download

Collections

Graduate Student Research Conference