Native Status
Hemidactylus turcicus (Mediterranean Gecko) is not native to Missouri. Thus far, non-native reptiles in Missouri have only been found in urban areas and do not appear to constitute a threat to our native herpetofauna. This is not the case everywhere and non-native species that become invasive are considered by many biologists to be a major threat, second only to habitat loss, to our native species. Care should be taken to prevent the spread of this and all non-native species. Furthermore, it is illegal to release non-native species into the environment.