Round Island day gecko
| Round Island day gecko | |
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P. guentheri
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| Phelsuma guentheri Boulenger, 1885
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The Round Island day gecko, Phelsuma guentheri, also known as Günther's gecko, is a species of gecko. It lives on the islet Round Island (Mauritius), and typically dwells on different palm trees. The Round Island day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.
Contents
Etymology
The specific name, guentheri, is in honor of German-born British herpetologist Albert Günther.[1]
Description
P. guentheri is one of the largest living day geckos. Males can reach a total length of about 30 cm (12 in), but often are much smaller. Females of this species are generally very much smaller than males. The body color is grayish or grayish-brown. A dark-brown stripe extends from the nostril to above the ear opening. On the back, dark spots may be present. In some individuals, the legs and toes have light-yellow bars. The ventral side is white or yellowish.
Geographic range
P. guentheri originally occurred on Mauritius before rats and cats were introduced. Now, it inhabits only Round Island, 22 km (14 mi) north-northeast of Mauritius.
Habitat
P. guentheri is often found on bottle palms, fan palms (Latania loddigesii ), and Pandanus. Since much of the original vegetation is destroyed, by tropical cylones, P. guentheri is forced to live in rocky crevices.
Diet
These days geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates. They also lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen, and nectar.
Reproduction
The females lay up to four pairs of eggs. The young will hatch after about 58–104 days. The juveniles measure 75 mm (3.0 in). The eggs are laid normally in June, but can be laid from February to September.
Care and maintenance in captivity
These animals are endangered and are only bred by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust at Durrell Wildlife Park.
References
- ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Phelsuma guentheri, pp. 110-111).
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phelsuma guentheri. |
- Madagascar Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Group. (1996). Phelsuma guentheri. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 9 May 2006. Listed as Endangered (EN D v2.3)
Further reading
- Boulenger GA. 1885. Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. (Phelsuma guentheri, new species, p. 213).
- Carpenter, A. I., I. M. Côte, and C. G. Jones. (2003). Habitat use, egg laying sites and activity patterns of an endangered Mauritian gecko (Phelsuma guentheri). Herpetological Journal 13: 155-157.
- Wheler, C. L., and J. E. Fa. (1995). Enclosure Utilization and Activity of Round Island Geckos (Phelsuma guentheri). Zoo Biology 14: 361-369.
- Henkel, F.-W., and W. Schmidt. (1995). Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Stuttgart: Ulmer. ISBN 3-8001-7323-9
- McKeown, Sean. (1993). The general care and maintenance of day geckos. Lakeside, California: Advanced Vivarium Systems.
