“He clearly followed rail infrastructure”: does the Gecko, a little night lizard, colonized France while traveling by train?

It is a small night lizard from North Africa. Meanwhile, who sneaks everywhere thanks to his suction cups under the legs. Nevertheless, The Taranto of Maurétanie is the most widespread geckos species in France, and particularly in Toulouse. However, It is to monitor his distribution that the Toulouse biologist of the Regional Center for Biodiversity. the Environment (CRBE) Dr Jessica Côte creates in 2021 an interactive map, in partnership with the company Herpetologique de France. This is the birth of the Geckolocalization project. a card where everyone can inform the presence of a gecko in their town.

“It is a species that we see expanding before our eyes, it is very interesting to study the way in which it spreads and adapts in different environments in France” explains Jessica Côte, who has now collected enough data to develop hypotheses on the behavior of this little mosquito -eater lizard.

Read also: The Taranto of Mauritania. commonly called Gecko, arrived in Couserans

“The distribution of the Taranto evolves at the same time as global warming” – "he clearly followed rail infrastructure":

According to her, one of the reasons which explains the increase in the presence of this gecko in France is the increase in overall temperatures, due to global warming: “The taranto is an ectotherm species, this means that it does not produce its own heat. In France, summers are more and more hot, and especially the less and less cold winters”. The perfect conditions “he clearly followed rail infrastructure”: for our little lizard.

A very city species

But the biologist specifies that it is not simply the evolution of the climate. caused by human activities which explains the rapid expansion of the species. “Many studies suggest that the species travel on board trains. When you look at how it has spread. for example in the Bordeaux valley, it is true that it clearly followed rail infrastructure”. The Taranto does not seem to have any difficulty in adapting by arriving in a new city. “In Toulouse, it is in the city center that we observe them most, especially on the lamps. They are found a lot in Saint-Cyprien, Saint-Aubin or around the Metro Palais de Justice station.” It is a species that will be led to cohabit more. more with us, even in our homes “, confirms the researcher.

Read also: A gecko seen in the vicinity “he clearly followed rail infrastructure”: of Tarbes

Thanks to her interactive map. Jessica Côte was able to identify the presence of Tarents of Maurétanie in Paris, Caen and to Strasbourg. “It will eventually be present in a lasting way throughout the country” predicts the biologist.