Round Island day gecko

Taxobox
name = Round Island day gecko
status = EN
status_system = iucn2.3
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
familia = Gekkonidae
subfamilia = Gekkoninae
genus = "Phelsuma"
species = "P. guentheri"
binomial = "Phelsuma guentheri"
binomial_authority = Boulenger, 1885

The Round Island day gecko, "Phelsuma guentheri", also known as Gunther'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.

Description

This lizard belongs to the largest living day geckos. Males can reach a total length of about 30 centimeters, but often are much smaller. Females of this species are generally smaller than males. The body colour grayish or brown grayish. 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.

Distribution

This species originally occurred on Mauritius before rats and cats were introduced. Nowadays, "P. guentheri" inhabits only Round Island, 22 kilometers north-northeast of Mauritius.

Habitat

"P. guentheri" is often found on different palms like bottle palms, fan palms ("Lantania") and pandanus. Since much of the original vegetation is destroyed, also by tropical cylones, "P. guentheri" is forced to live on rocky crevices.

Diet

These days geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates. They also like to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.

Reproduction

The females lay up to 4 pairs of eggs. The young will hatch after approximately 58-104 days. The juveniles measure 75 mm. The eggs are laid normally in June, but they are laid all the way from February-September.

Care and maintenance in captivity

These animals are endangered and are only bred by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust at Jersey Zoological Park.

References

* Listed as Endangered (EN D v2.3)

* 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". Ulmer Stuttgart. ISBN 3-8001-7323-9
* McKeown, Sean (1993) "The general care and maintenance of day geckos". Advanced Vivarium Systems, Lakeside CA.