Koch's giant day gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi ) is a diurnalsubspecies of gecko, a lizard in the familyGekkonidae. The subspecies is native to northwestern and western Madagascar and typically inhabits trees. It feeds on insects and nectar.
The subspecific name, kochi, is in honor of German ornithologist and herpetologist K.L. Koch of the Naturmuseum Senckenberg in Frankfurt.[3]
Taxonomy and systematicsedit
Koch's giant day gecko is often treated as its own species, Phelsuma kochi Mertens, 1954.[1][2]
Descriptionedit
P. m. kochi is among the largest living day geckos. It can reach a total length (including tail) of 30.5 centimetres (12.0 in).[4] The body colour is a dark, dull green. A faint red stripe extends from the nostril to the eye. On the back there may be little reddish dots present. The neck and flanks often are light grey. The ventral side is off-white.
Geographic rangeedit
P. m. kochi is widely distributed in northwestern and western Madagascar on the coast and in the inland. It was first discovered in the region around Maevatanana.
Habitatedit
P. m. kochi is often found on different trees such as banana trees where it can be seen basking. It avoids human dwellings. The climate is very dry throughout the year and the temperature can be as high as 40 °C (104 °F).
Dietedit
Koch's giant day gecko feeds on various insects and other invertebrates. It also like to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.
The pairing season for P. m. kochi is between November and the first weeks of May. During this period, the sexually mature females lay up to 6 pairs of eggs. At a temperature of 28 °C (82 °F), the young will hatch after approximately 63–68 days. The juveniles measure 65 mm (2.6 in) and reach sexual maturity after one year.
Care and maintenance in captivityedit
P. m. kochi should be housed in pairs although successful group breeding with one male and several females has been reported. They need a large, well planted terrarium. The temperature should be about 28 °C (82 °F) during the day. The humidity should be maintained around 65%. In captivity, these animals can be fed with crickets, wax moths, fruit flies, mealworms, and houseflies.
Referencesedit
^ abGlaw F, Rakotondrazafy NA, Rabibisoa N, Ratsoavina F (2011). "Phelsuma kochi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T193491A8863846. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T193491A8863846.en.
^ abPhelsuma kochi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi, p. 144).
^Glaw F, Vences M (2007). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Third edition. ISBN978-3-929449-03-7
Further readingedit
Henkel F-W, Schmidt W (1995). Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Stuttgart: Ulmer. ISBN3-8001-7323-9
McKeown, Sean (1993). The General Care and Maintenance of Day Geckos. Lakeside, California: Advanced Vivarium Systems.
Mertens R (1954). "Studien über die Reptilienfauna Madagaskars II. Eine neue Rasse von Phelsuma madagascariensis". Senckenbergiana Biologica35: 13-16. (Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi, new subspecies). (in German).
April 09, 2024
koch, giant, gecko, phelsuma, madagascariensis, kochi, diurnal, subspecies, gecko, lizard, family, gekkonidae, subspecies, native, northwestern, western, madagascar, typically, inhabits, trees, feeds, insects, nectar, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, . Koch s giant day gecko Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi is a diurnal subspecies of gecko a lizard in the family Gekkonidae The subspecies is native to northwestern and western Madagascar and typically inhabits trees It feeds on insects and nectar Koch s giant day geckoConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily GekkonidaeGenus PhelsumaSpecies P madagascariensisSubspecies P m kochiTrinomial namePhelsuma madagascariensis kochiMertens 1954SynonymsPhelsuma madagascariensis kochi Mertens 1954 Phelsuma kochi Raxworthy et al 2007 2 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Taxonomy and systematics 3 Description 4 Geographic range 5 Habitat 6 Diet 7 Behaviour 8 Reproduction 9 Care and maintenance in captivity 10 References 11 Further readingEtymology editThe subspecific name kochi is in honor of German ornithologist and herpetologist K L Koch of the Naturmuseum Senckenberg in Frankfurt 3 Taxonomy and systematics editKoch s giant day gecko is often treated as its own species Phelsuma kochi Mertens 1954 1 2 Description editP m kochi is among the largest living day geckos It can reach a total length including tail of 30 5 centimetres 12 0 in 4 The body colour is a dark dull green A faint red stripe extends from the nostril to the eye On the back there may be little reddish dots present The neck and flanks often are light grey The ventral side is off white Geographic range editP m kochi is widely distributed in northwestern and western Madagascar on the coast and in the inland It was first discovered in the region around Maevatanana Habitat editP m kochi is often found on different trees such as banana trees where it can be seen basking It avoids human dwellings The climate is very dry throughout the year and the temperature can be as high as 40 C 104 F Diet editKoch s giant day gecko feeds on various insects and other invertebrates It also like to lick soft sweet fruit pollen and nectar Behaviour editThis subspecies P m kochi is not quite as quarrelsome and aggressive as P m madagascariensis and P m grandis Reproduction editThe pairing season for P m kochi is between November and the first weeks of May During this period the sexually mature females lay up to 6 pairs of eggs At a temperature of 28 C 82 F the young will hatch after approximately 63 68 days The juveniles measure 65 mm 2 6 in and reach sexual maturity after one year Care and maintenance in captivity editP m kochi should be housed in pairs although successful group breeding with one male and several females has been reported They need a large well planted terrarium The temperature should be about 28 C 82 F during the day The humidity should be maintained around 65 In captivity these animals can be fed with crickets wax moths fruit flies mealworms and houseflies References edit a b Glaw F Rakotondrazafy NA Rabibisoa N Ratsoavina F 2011 Phelsuma kochi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011 e T193491A8863846 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2011 2 RLTS T193491A8863846 en a b Phelsuma kochi at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Beolens Bo Watkins Michael Grayson Michael 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press xiii 296 pp ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi p 144 Glaw F Vences M 2007 A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar Third edition ISBN 978 3 929449 03 7Further reading editHenkel F W Schmidt W 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 Mertens R 1954 Studien uber die Reptilienfauna Madagaskars II Eine neue Rasse von Phelsuma madagascariensis Senckenbergiana Biologica 35 13 16 Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi new subspecies in German Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Koch 27s giant day gecko amp oldid 1009996249, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
