[3] It is insectivorous, rarely exceeds 15 cm (5.9 in) in length, has large, lidless eyes with elliptical pupils, and purple or tan-colored skin with black spots, often with stripes on the tail.

The increase may be explained as a consequence of having few predators in places where it has been introduced, and also of its tendency to take shelter in the cracks and unseen areas of human homes, for example inside walls.

In some Eastern Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, harming H. turcicus is taboo due to its benign nature, and it is often kept as a house pet.

The Mediterranean gecko is a very small lizard generally measuring 10–13 cm (4–5 inches) in length, with sticky toe pads, vertical pupils, and large eyes that lack eyelids.

Upper surface of body covered with minute granules intermixed with large tubercles, which are generally larger than the spaces between them, suboval and trihedral in shape, and arranged in 14 or 16 pretty, regular, longitudinal series.

It can be found in countries with Mediterranean climates,[7] such as Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Israel, Malta, southern Bulgaria, North Macedonia, coastal Croatia (except western Istria), Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Adriatic islands, coastal Montenegro, the coastal part of Albania, Cyprus, Turkey, northern Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Syria, Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, northern Yemen (the Socotra Archipelago), Somalia, Eritrea, Kenya, southern Iran, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, the Balearic Islands (Island Addaya Grande), the Canary Islands (introduced to Gran Canaria and Tenerife), Panama, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Cuba.

[16] In Mexico, introductions are known to the states Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán,[17] Baja California,[8] Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora,[18] Durango,[19] and Nuevo León.

[20] Mediterranean house geckos inhabit a wide range of habitats, in areas near human presence such as university campuses, cemeteries, coastal regions, and shrublands.

Female house geckos experience delayed fertilization and can store sperm in a funnel-shaped organ called the infundibulum for up to five months.

[23] Primary prey of Mediterranean house geckos has been noted to include crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, spiders, beetles, moths, butterflies, ants, isopods, and snails.