FIRST RECORDS OF MOORISH GECKO TARENTOLA MAURITANICA AND TURKISH GECKO HEMIDACTYLUS TURCICUS (SQUAMATA, GEKKONIDAE) IN THE SOUTHERN METALLIFEROUS HILLS, TUSCANY, ITALY.

Moorish gecko Tarentola mauritanica and Turkish gecko Hemydactilus turcicus are among the most widely distributed lizards of the Mediterranean basin. However, records for these species at altitudes above 400 m a.s.l. are few. In this paper, we document the presence of these species in a hilly area in the northernmost part of the Province of Grosseto (Tuscany, Central Italy). In particular, Moorish geckoes were found up to 609 m a.s.l. since early 2000s. First individuals were possibly introduced with transport of building materials: the average increase in winter temperature of the past recent years might have helped the establishment of breeding populations.