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Phelsuma
*** Shopping-Tip: Phelsuma
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Day geckos
| image = P. flavigularis.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption =
Yellow-throated day gecko, ''Phelsuma flavigularis''
| regnum =
Animalia
| phylum =
Chordate Chordata
| classis =
Reptile Reptilia
| ordo =
Squamata
| subordo =
Sauria
| familia =
Gekkonidae
| subfamilia =
Gekkoninae
| genus = ''
Phelsuma''
| genus_authority =
John Edward Gray Gray, 1825
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
43 species; see text.
}}
'''Day geckos''' are small
lizards of the genus '''''Phelsuma''''' in the
Gecko family. Most members of the genus have attractive vivid colours which make them popular terrarium pets.
Description
In contrast to most other
gecko species, day geckos are active mainly during the day. Other diurnal geckos are members of the genus ''
Lygodactylus'' and the genus ''
Gonatodes''. Day geckos have rounded pupils and a clear, fixed plate covering their eyes which they clean with their tongue. Day geckos do not have eyelids. Many species have bright green, red and blue colours which make them popular
terrarium or
vivarium pets. These brilliant colours play a role in intraspecies recognition and also serve as camouflage.
Image:Madagascariensis2.jpg 250px|''Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis'', adult, male, in Terrarium
The length of the different ''Phelsuma'' species varies between about 6.5 to 30 cm (2.5-12 in.). Day geckos have toe pads consisting of tiny lamellae which allow them to walk on plain surfaces like bamboo or glass. The inner toe and thumb are vestigial. Males have well developed femoral pores on the undersurface of the rear limbs. These pores are less developed or absent in females. Females often have well developed endolymphatic chalk sacs on the sides of their neck. In these sacks, calcium is stored which is needed for egg production. Those eggs can often been seen shining through the ventral surface of the body shortly before they are laid. The hatchlings reach sexual maturity between 6-12 months. Smaller species may live up to ten years whereas the larger species have been reported to live more than 20 years in captivity.
Distribution and habitat
Day geckos inhabit the islands of the south-east part of the
Indian Ocean. The one exception is ''
Phelsuma andamanense'', which is endemic to the
Andaman islands in the
Bay of Bengal. The main distribution of day geckos is
Madagascar which may also be the origin of the genus. Some species are found on neighbouring island groups (
Mascarenes,
Seychelles,
Comoros) and the coast of East Africa. The different ''Phelsuma'' species can be found from sea level up to 2,300 meters. Most day geckos are arboreal. They inhabit, amongst others, (coconut) palms and banana trees, but can also be found near human settlements, in gardens, on fences, houses and huts. Other species can also be found on rocks
Diet
Day geckos feed on various kinds of
insects and other
invertebrates. They also like to eat nectar, pollen and occasionally soft, ripe and sweet fruits such as bananas. In captivity, these geckos should be provided with a similar diet. Some insects which can be used as food: (wingless)
fruit fly fruit flies, different
flies,
wax moths,
cricket (insect) crickets, small
super worms, small
butter worms and
mealworms. Day geckos should be provided with sliced fruit, such as
papaya, or a small amount of
banana a few times a week. Also fruit baby food or some commercial gecko nectar may be suitable.
Classification
The genus ''Phelsuma'' was first described by the British zoologist
John Edward Gray in 1825 and named after the
Netherlands Dutch physician
Murk van Phelsum. The genus consists of about 70 known
species and
subspecies.
Two ''Phelsuma'' species (''
Phelsuma gigas'' and ''
Phelsuma edwardnewtoni'') are now considered to be extinct, probably due to the destruction of their environment by human settlers and their domestic animals. Many day gecko species are endangered today because more and more of their natrual habitat, especially (rain) forest, is being destroyed on Madagascar and other islands.
* ''
Phelsuma abbotti''
** ''
Phelsuma abbotti abbotti'' (
Aldabra Island day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma abbotti chekei'' (
Cheke's day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma abbotti pulchra''
** ''
Phelsuma abbotti sumptio'' (
Assumption Island day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma andamanense'' (
Andaman Islands day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma antanosy''
* ''
Phelsuma astriata''
** ''
Phelsuma astriata astriata'' (
Seychelles small day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma astriata semicarinata''
** ''
Phelsuma astriata astovei''
* ''
Phelsuma barbouri'' (
Barbour's day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma berghofi''
* ''
Phelsuma borbonica''
** ''
Phelsuma borbonica borbonica'' (
Reunion Island day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma borbonica mater''
** ''
Phelsuma borbonica agalegae'' (
Agalega day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma breviceps''
* ''
Phelsuma cepediana'' (
Blue-tailed day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma comorensis''
* ''
Phelsuma dubia'' (
Dull day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma edwardnewtoni'' (
Rodrigues day gecko) �— '''extinct''', last seen 1917�
* ''
Phelsuma flavigularis'' (
Yellow-throated day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma gigas'' (
Rodrigues giant day gecko) �— '''extinct''', last seen 1842�
* ''
Phelsuma guentheri'' (
Round Island day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma guimbeaui''
** ''
Phelsuma guimbeaui guimbeaui'' (
Mauritius lowland forest day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma guimbeaui rosagularis'' (
Mauritius upland forest day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma guttata'' (
Speckled day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma hielscheri''
* ''
Phelsuma inexpectata'' (
Reunion Island ornate day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma kely''
* ''
Phelsuma klemmeri'' (
Yellow-headed day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma laticauda''
** ''
Phelsuma laticauda laticauda'' (
Gold dust day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma laticauda angularis''
* ''
Phelsuma lineata''
** ''
Phelsuma lineata lineata'' (
Lined day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma lineata bifasciata''
** ''
Phelsuma lineata chloroscelis''
** ''
Phelsuma lineata bombetokensis''
** ''
Phelsuma lineata dorsivittata''
** ''
Phelsuma lineata punctulata''
* ''
Phelsuma madagascariensis''
** ''
Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis'' (
Madagascar day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis'' (
Madagascar giant day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi'' (
Koch's giant day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma madagascariensis boehmei'' (
Boehme' giant day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma malamakibo''
* ''
Phelsuma masohoala''
* ''
Phelsuma modesta''
** ''
Phelsuma modesta modesta''
** ''
Phelsuma modesta leiogaster''
** ''
Phelsuma modesta isakae''
* ''
Phelsuma mutabilis''
* ''
Phelsuma nigristriata''
* ''
Phelsuma ocellata''
* ''
Phelsuma ornata'' (
Mauritius ornate day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma parkeri'' (
Pemba Island day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma pronki''
* ''
Phelsuma pusilla''
** ''
Phelsuma pusilla pusilla''
** ''
Phelsuma pusilla hallmanni''
* ''
Phelsuma quadriocellata''
** ''
Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata'' (
Four spot day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma quadriocellata bimaculata''
** ''
Phelsuma quadriocellata lepida''
** ''
Phelsuma quadriocellata parva''
* ''
Robert Mertens' day gecko Phelsuma robertmertensi'' (Robert Mertens' day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma seippi'' (
Seipp's day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma serraticauda'' (
Flat-tailed day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma standingi'' (
Standing's day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma sundbergi''
** ''
Phelsuma sundbergi sundbergi'' (
Seychelles giant day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma sundbergi ladiguensis'' (
La Digue day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma sundbergi longinsulae'' (
Mahé day gecko)
* ''
Phelsuma trilineata''
* ''
Phelsuma vanheygeni''
* ''
Phelsuma v-nigra''
** ''
Phelsuma v-nigra pasteuri'' (
Pasteur's day gecko)
** ''
Phelsuma v-nigra v-nigra''
** ''
Phelsuma v-nigra anjouanensis''
** ''
Phelsuma v-nigra comoraegrandensis'' (
Grand Comoro day gecko)
Explanation of the species epithets
* ''abbotti'': after W. L. Abbott.
* ''agalagae'': from
Agalega.
* ''andamanensis'': from the
Andaman Islands.
* ''angularis'': angular (refers to the tail).
* ''anjouanensis'': from Anjouan (island).
* ''astovei'': from Astove (island).
* ''astriata'': without stripes (in comparison to ''
Phelsuma lineata lineata'').
* ''barbouri'': after Barbour.
* ''befotankensis'': from
Befotaka.
* ''bimaculata'': with two blotches, spots.
* ''boehmei'': after
Wolfgang Böhme.
* ''bombetokensis'': from Bombetoka (bay).
* ''borbonica'': from Bourbon (now called
Réunion).
* ''breviceps'': short headed.
* ''cepediana'': after
Bernard Germain Étienne de la Ville, Comte de Lacépède.
* ''checkei'': after
Anthony. S. Checke.
* ''chloroscelis'': with (leaf) green thighs.
* ''comoraegrandensis'': from
Grande Comoros.
* ''comorensis'': from the
Comoros (island group).
* ''dorsivittata'': back wrapped in ribbons.
* ''dubia'': doubtful.
* ''edwardnewtonii'': after
Edward Newton.
* ''flavigularis'': with a yellow throat.
* ''grandis'': big.
* ''guentheri'': after
Albert Günther.
* ''guimbeaui'': after B. Guimbeau.
* ''guttata'': with teardrop formed spots.
* ''hallmannii'': after G. Hallmann.
* ''inexpectata'': unexpected.
* ''kely'': small (in the
Malagasy language).
* ''kochi'': after K.L. Koch.
* ''ladiguensis'': from la Digue (island).
* ''laticauda'': with a broad, flattened tail.
* ''leiogaster'': smooth scales (belly).
* ''leiura'': smooth tail scales.
* ''lineata'': striped.
* ''longinsulae'': from Long Island.
* ''madagascariensis'': from
Madagascar.
* ''martensi'': after
Karl Martens.
* ''menaiensis'': from Menai.
* ''minuthi'': after W. Minuth.
* ''modesta'': modest.
* ''mutabilis'': variable, changeable.
* ''nigristriata'': with black stripes.
* ''notissima'': best known.
* ''ornata'': ornated.
* ''parkeri'': after Park.
* ''parva'': small.
* ''pasteuri'': after
Georges Pasteur.
* ''Phelsuma'': after
Murk van Phelsum.
* ''pulchra'': beautiful.
* ''punctulata'': with small spots.
* ''pusilla'': tiny.
* ''quadriocellata'': with four eyes.
* ''robertmertensi'': after
Robert Mertens.
* ''rosagularis'': with a rose-coloured throat.
* ''rubra'': red(-hot).
* ''seippi'': after
Robert Seipp.
* ''semicarinata'': semi-keeled (scales).
* ''serraticauda'': with a serrated tail.
* ''standingi'': after Standing.
* ''sumptio:.
*# from
Assumption Island.
*# from sumptuous (posture, build).
* ''sundbergi'': after H. Sundberg.
* ''trilineata'': with three stripes.
* ''umbrae'': shaded.
* ''v-nigra'': with a black V (marking).
* ''venusta'': sweet.
* ''vinsoni'': after
Jean Vinson and
Jean-Michel Vinson.
References
See
Phelsuma references.
External links
-
Phelsumania.com
-
Gekkota.org
Category:Geckos
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