The Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) in the Cantabrian Region (Northern Spain): A Paradigmatic Case of Anthropogenic Passive Dispersal in the Context of Global Change

The arrival of non-native species to new territories is a key biogeographical phenomenon of the Anthropocene, driven by globalization of supply chains and climate change. The former acts as a vector of passive dispersal through the transport of goods and people; the latter creates new ecological opportunities for thermophilous species. This paper reviews sightings of the Moorish gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) across the Cantabrian coastal strip (northern Spain), outside its historical range. Three new records are documented in Asturias: Tielve de Cabrales (2024, 703 m a.s.l., adult male in Picos de Europa National Park), Colunga (2026, 21 m), and Gijón (2026, 7 m), adding to 47 other recorded localities in the Cantabrian region, including breeding populations in Cantabria and the Basque Country. New coastal sightings near ports and transport routes occur in thermally favorable settings, highlighting transport as an entry pathway. In contrast, the Tielve record at higher altitude and harsher climate suggests a punctual accidental arrival with lower likelihood of establishment. These findings are discussed in relation to climate change, which may facilitate northward consolidation, and to the global expansion of T. mauritanica. Continuous monitoring of non-native fauna as an early warning system is essential, especially in protected areas.