Turkish House Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus turcicus)
Created: May 30th, 2010 - 01:17 AM
Last Modified: January 5th, 2011 - 06:02 PM Entered by: Brian Hubbs
Record 46321
Last Modified: January 5th, 2011 - 06:02 PM Entered by: Brian Hubbs
Record 46321
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Country: United States |
State: Texas |
County: Val Verde County |
Time: 1983-05-12 00:00:00 |
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Qty: 1 |
Age: Adult |
Sex: -- |
Method: Visual encounter |
Habitat: Neighborhood fence |
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Body Temperature: ----- |
Air Temperature: ----- |
Ground Temperature: ----- |
Humidity: ----- |
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Sky Conditions: ----- |
Moon Phase: ----- |
Elevation: ----- |
Barometric Pressure: ----- |
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Vouchers
Comments
Good question...
Naturalization, as it was taught to me, was when a non-native species becomes established, but is not seriously threatening to the point of being invasive. So for example, kudzu is bad, it takes over and kills things, but the house finch, while it probably competes with other bird species, is not, to the best of our knowledge, responsible for the severe decline of other species. Before this gecko species, were there other wall-hugging urban lizards in Florida, or did this species fill an empty niche? I don't know. I was curious how long you thought something had to be around before it is "naturalized'. I didn't expect you to say never. In my classes, teachers said 100+ years or if it came to the US around 1900 (I was taking classes a bit after 2000). Since your record is 30+ years, I wonder what people 30 years from now, or 60 years from now, will say about this gecko, or will they be talking about H. mabouia or something else entirely. More to the point, this species has evidently been established longer than I've been on this planet. It makes me think naturalization can take place in less than 100 years.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding the question...
That is...if you are talking about them now being native because they are established...no, I don't believe that. It's not true.
I believe the geckos can be established, but they are not natives.
A non-native species is a non-native species, no matter what it is. No, I don't believe in the naturalization of any non-native species except humans. LOL
So I assume you don't believe in naturalization then, and the house finch is still an introduced species to you? I was commented more on how old the record is - this species has occurred in the US longer than I personally have existed.
Never...it will always be an introduced species if it is not naturally occurring.
How long does a species need to be around before it is considered naturalized?