Andaman Islands day gecko

Taxobox
name = Geckos
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
familia = Gekkonidae
subfamilia = Gekkoninae
genus = "Phelsuma"
species = "P. andamanense"
binomial = "Phelsuma andamanense"
binomial_authority = Blyth, 1861

Andaman Islands day gecko ("Phelsuma andamanense" Blyth, 1861) is a species of geckos. It is a small, slender lizard, has a bright green colour and feeds on insects. It is only found on the Andaman Islands.

Scientific synonyms

*"Gecko chameleon" Tytler, 1864
*"Phelsuma madagascariensis"- Loveridge, 1942: 467
*"Phelsuma andamanensis" Mertens, 1962
*"Phelsuma andamanensis" Börner, 1984
*"Phelsuma andamanensis" Kluge, 1993
*"Phelsuma andamanensis" Rösler, 2000: 101

Description

The body of this day gecko is bright green with red dots and stripes on the back. Males have a bluish or turquoise coloured tail. On both sides of the snout, a redish-brown stripe is extending from the nostrils to the ear. The undersurface of the body is bright yellow or off-white.

Habitat

This species inhabits lowland where is typically found in domestic gardens with coconut palms and banana trees. It also sometimes lives on local huts.

Behaviour

These shy day geckos are extremely aggressive toward other members of its species.

Reproduction

"Phelsuma andamanense" normally lays two eggs in a protected and elevated location. The females can be extraordinarily fertile. It has been observed that during a period of 18 months, 14 pairs of eggs were laid.

References

*Henkel, F.-W. and W. Schmidt (1995) "Amphibien und Reptilien Madagascars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren". Ulmer Stuttgart. ISBN 3-8001-7323-9
*McKeown, Sean (1993) "The general care and maintenance of day geckos". Advanced Vivarium Systems, Lakeside CA.