Phelsuma

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Day gecko
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Phelsuma
Gold dust day gecko, Phelsuma laticauda
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Subfamily: Uroplatinae
Genus: Phelsuma
Gray, 1825
Species

53 species; see text

Phelsuma is a large genus of geckos in the family Gekkonidae. Species in the genus Phelsuma are commonly referred to as day geckos.

Some day geckos are seriously endangered and some are common, but all Phelsuma species are

IUCN considers it a threat to some species. Some species are captive-bred.[2]

Taxonomy

The genus itself is thought to have originated anywhere between the

Namaqua day gecko (Rhoptropella), although it is unknown how closely related both genera are. The crown group containing all recent species is thought to have originated in the early Oligocene, about 30 million years ago, with the most basal of them being the isolated Andaman day gecko (P. andamanensis), which diverged from all other species shortly after the crown group originated.[3] Most of the other divergence among species in areas of the Western Indian Ocean such as the Seychelles is thought to have occurred in the Neogene.[4]

Description

In contrast to most other gecko species, day geckos of the genus Phelsuma are active mainly during the day. Other diurnal geckos include species of the genera Lygodactylus and Gonatodes. Like most other geckos, day geckos lack eyelids, instead having rounded pupils and a clear, fixed plate covering their eyes which they clean with their tongues. Many species have bright green, red, and blue colors which make them popular terrarium or vivarium pets. These brilliant colors play a role in intraspecies recognition and also serve as camouflage.

The total length (including tail) of the different Phelsuma species varies between about 6.5 and 30 centimetres (2.6 and 11.8 in), but the extinct

endolymphatic
chalk sacs on the sides of their necks. These sacs store calcium, which is needed for egg production. Those eggs can often be seen through the ventral surface of the female's body shortly before they are laid. The hatchlings reach sexual maturity between six and 12 months old. Smaller species may live up to 10 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-west part of the

Phelsuma barbouri
, is a terrestrial species.

Diet

Day geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates in the wild. They also eat nectar, pollen, and occasionally soft, ripe and sweet fruits such as bananas.

In captivity, such a diet is simulated. Insects which may be used include: (wingless)

butter worms and mealworms. Fruit, which is required a few times a week, may be small pieces of papaya, banana
, or other sweet fruit and also commercial gecko nectars.

In 2008 a BBC film crew took footage of a day gecko successfully begging a planthopper for honeydew.[5]

Classification

Mauritius ornate day gecko
(P. ornata), Mauritius
Blue-tailed day gecko
(P. cepediana), Mauritius

The genus Phelsuma was first described in 1825 by the British zoologist John Edward Gray, who named it after the Dutch physician Murk van Phelsum.[6] The genus consists of about 70 known species and subspecies.

Two Phelsuma species (

Phelsuma edwardnewtoni), both of which were endemic to the Mascarene island of Rodrigues, are now considered to be extinct
, probably due to the destruction of their environments by human settlers and their domestic animals. Many day gecko species are endangered today for similar reasons: an increasing percentage of their natural habitat, especially tropical forest, is being destroyed by human activity.

trinomial authority
in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Phelsuma.


References

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2017-04-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ Breeding Endangered Geckos, editor's interview with Matt Schaefer, July 23, 2013
  3. PMID 32678130
    .
  4. PMID 23289814
    .
  5. ^ "Gecko 'begs' insect for honeydew". BBC News. 16 February 2008.
  6. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5
    . (Phelsuma, p. 206).
  7. ^ "Catalogue of Life: Phelsuma malamakibo Nussbaum, Raxworthy, Raselimanana & Ramanamanjato, 2000". www.catalogueoflife.org. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  8. ^ "Phelsuma masohoala". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  9. ^ "Phelsuma modesta". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2020-05-29.

External links

Further reading


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