Phelsuma grandis is a diurnalarborealspecies of day gecko. These geckos are part of the Phelsuma group, which consists of in excess of 70 species and subspecies. They are commonly referred to as the Madagascar giant day gecko, due to their large size. They are native to areas of tropical and subtropical forest in northern Madagascar, but have been introduced to several other subtropical locations outside their range. P. grandis feeds on various invertebrates, very small vertebrates, and nectars. It is bred and sold as an exotic pet.
The species Phelsuma grandis described by Gray 1870 was elevated from subspecies status (P. madagascariensis grandis) by Raxworthy et al. in 2007,[3] after environmental niche modeling revealed significant and reliable differences between it and other members of the P. madagascariensis-clade. This elevation has since received further molecular support.[4]P. grandis possesses also the junior synonyms Phelsuma madagascariensis venustaMertens, 1964 and Phelsuma madagascariensis notissimaMertens, 1970 (fide Meier, 1982). The common name, appended to the current accepted name, has been given as Madagascar giant day gecko or variants such as Giant Day Gecko.[5]
Description
Stuttgart Zoo
This lizard reaches a total length of 9-11″ (23-28cm), with females generally being smaller than males.[6] The body colour is bright green or, rarely, bluish green. A red stripe extends from the nostril to the eye. On the back there are typically red coloured dots or bars. These red markings are quite variable, and in some cases, completely absent, though the line extending from the nostril to the eye is always present. Some specimens may have small blue spots. Adult specimens may have large sacs on their necks. These are stored calcium sacks. Young individuals of the species often exhibit much more red than their parents, but as time passes, many of the markings fade, to leave those that will stay for the remainder of the gecko's life. The underside of these animals is a creamy white ranging to an eggy yellow. When stressed, the colouration darkens, rendering the whole animal a dark green, and the red markings on the face and back more orange in hue.[7]
Distribution and habitat
on Nosy Komba
This species is widely distributed in northern and northwest Madagascar.[8] There are a few recorded populations of this species also in Florida[9][10] and Hawaii.[11] It was introduced to Reunion Island in the mid-1990s and can be found in Mauritius, mainly in the northern part of the island at first, then in Floreal and in the upper Plaine Wilhems,[12] and has since spread to such an extent that the species is considered a threat to the native biodiversity.[13][14]
Behaviour
Like most Phelsuma species, the males can be quite quarrelsome and territorial and will not accept other males in their neighborhood. They only allow females to enter their territory. In captivity, where the females cannot escape, the males can also sometimes seriously wound a female. In this case the male and female must be separated. Breeding behavior includes, the shaking of the tail or body, vocalizing, and if the female does not accept the male she may turn a darker green.
The day geckos may move slowly, but when they are startled they can move very fast. They are known for being very good at escaping their enclosures. Giant day geckos have no eyelids, so to keep their eyes clean, they lick them often.[15]
Diet
These day geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates, and occasionally have been recorded consuming small vertebrates. They also like to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.[5] Geckos in the wild and in captivity have been observed consuming their own young.[16]
Reproduction
The breeding season is between December and June. During this period, females can lay multiple pairs of eggs. The young will hatch after approximately 48–80 days depending on temperature.[8]
References
^Ratsoavina, F.; Glaw, F.; Rakotondrazafy, N.A. (2011). "Phelsuma grandis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T193490A8863630. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T193490A8863630.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 206. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5.
^Raxworthy, Christopher J.; Ingram, Colleen M.; Rabibisoa, Nirhy; Pearson, Richard G.; Weins, John (1 December 2007). "Applications of ecological niche modeling for species delimitation: a review and empirical evaluation using day geckos (Phelsuma) from Madagascar". Systematic Biology. 56 (6): 907–923. doi:10.1080/10635150701775111. PMID 18066927.
^Rocha, Sara; Rösler, Herbert; Gehring, Philip-Sebastian; Glaw, Frank; Posada, David; Harris, D. James; Vences, Miguel (19 April 2010). "Phylogenetic systematics of day geckos, genus Phelsuma, based on molecular and morphological data (Squamata: Gekkonidae)". Zootaxa. 2429 (1): 1–28. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2429.1.1.
^ ab. GeckoWeb. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
^Healey, Mariah. "Giant Day Gecko Care Sheet". ReptiFiles. Retrieved 2022-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (2007).A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. 3rd edition. ISBN978-3-929449-03-7
^ abZug, George R. (28 June 2013). Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands: A Comprehensive Guide. University of California Press. pp. 112–113. ISBN978-0-520-95540-0.
^"Nonnatives - Giant Day Gecko". Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 2016.
^Krysko, K. L., A. N. Hooper, and C. M. Sheehy III. 2003. The Madagascar giant day gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis Gray 1870 (Sauria: Gekkonidae): a new established species in Florida. Florida Scientist 66:222-225.
^"Day of the Gecko". Hana Hou!. Hawaiian Airlines. 13 (6): 4. 2011.
^Buckland, S.; Cole, N. C.; Aguirre-Gutiérrez, J.; Gallagher, L. E.; Henshaw, S. M.; Besnard, A.; Tucker, R. M.; Bachraz, V.; Ruhomaun, K.; Harris, S.; Russo, D. (30 April 2014). "Ecological effects of the invasive giant madagascar day gecko on endemic mauritian geckos: applications of binomial-mixture and species distribution models". PLOS ONE. 9 (4): e88798. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0088798. PMC4005729. PMID 24785293.
^"Madagascar Giant Day Gecko (Phelsuma grandis)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
^Lamar, William W.; Love, Bill (1997). The World's Most Spectacular Reptiles & Amphibians. World Publications. p. 64. ISBN978-1-884942-06-8.
^McKeown, Sean (1993). The general care and maintenance of day geckos. Lakeside, CA, USA: Advanced Vivarium Systems.
Further reading
Henkel, F.-W. and W. Schmidt (1995) Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Ulmer Stuttgart. ISBN3-8001-7323-9
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phelsuma grandis.
Giant Day Gecko Care Sheet
May 28, 2023
phelsuma, grandis, diurnal, arboreal, species, gecko, these, geckos, part, phelsuma, group, which, consists, excess, species, subspecies, they, commonly, referred, madagascar, giant, gecko, their, large, size, they, native, areas, tropical, subtropical, forest. Phelsuma grandis is a diurnal arboreal species of day gecko These geckos are part of the Phelsuma group which consists of in excess of 70 species and subspecies They are commonly referred to as the Madagascar giant day gecko due to their large size They are native to areas of tropical and subtropical forest in northern Madagascar but have been introduced to several other subtropical locations outside their range P grandis feeds on various invertebrates very small vertebrates and nectars It is bred and sold as an exotic pet Phelsuma grandisConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily GekkonidaeGenus PhelsumaSpecies P grandisBinomial namePhelsuma grandisGray 1870SynonymsPhelsuma madagascariensis grandis Gray 1870 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour 5 Diet 6 Reproduction 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksTaxonomy EditIts generic name is a Latinized version of the last name of Dutch physician Murk van Phelsum 2 Its specific name grandis is Latin for great The species Phelsuma grandis described by Gray 1870 was elevated from subspecies status P madagascariensis grandis by Raxworthy et al in 2007 3 after environmental niche modeling revealed significant and reliable differences between it and other members of the P madagascariensis clade This elevation has since received further molecular support 4 P grandis possesses also the junior synonyms Phelsuma madagascariensis venusta Mertens 1964 and Phelsuma madagascariensis notissima Mertens 1970 fide Meier 1982 The common name appended to the current accepted name has been given as Madagascar giant day gecko or variants such as Giant Day Gecko 5 Description Edit Stuttgart Zoo This lizard reaches a total length of 9 11 23 28cm with females generally being smaller than males 6 The body colour is bright green or rarely bluish green A red stripe extends from the nostril to the eye On the back there are typically red coloured dots or bars These red markings are quite variable and in some cases completely absent though the line extending from the nostril to the eye is always present Some specimens may have small blue spots Adult specimens may have large sacs on their necks These are stored calcium sacks Young individuals of the species often exhibit much more red than their parents but as time passes many of the markings fade to leave those that will stay for the remainder of the gecko s life The underside of these animals is a creamy white ranging to an eggy yellow When stressed the colouration darkens rendering the whole animal a dark green and the red markings on the face and back more orange in hue 7 Distribution and habitat Edit on Nosy Komba This species is widely distributed in northern and northwest Madagascar 8 There are a few recorded populations of this species also in Florida 9 10 and Hawaii 11 It was introduced to Reunion Island in the mid 1990s and can be found in Mauritius mainly in the northern part of the island at first then in Floreal and in the upper Plaine Wilhems 12 and has since spread to such an extent that the species is considered a threat to the native biodiversity 13 14 Behaviour EditLike most Phelsuma species the males can be quite quarrelsome and territorial and will not accept other males in their neighborhood They only allow females to enter their territory In captivity where the females cannot escape the males can also sometimes seriously wound a female In this case the male and female must be separated Breeding behavior includes the shaking of the tail or body vocalizing and if the female does not accept the male she may turn a darker green The day geckos may move slowly but when they are startled they can move very fast They are known for being very good at escaping their enclosures Giant day geckos have no eyelids so to keep their eyes clean they lick them often 15 Diet EditThese day geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates and occasionally have been recorded consuming small vertebrates They also like to lick soft sweet fruit pollen and nectar 5 Geckos in the wild and in captivity have been observed consuming their own young 16 Reproduction EditThe breeding season is between December and June During this period females can lay multiple pairs of eggs The young will hatch after approximately 48 80 days depending on temperature 8 References Edit Ratsoavina F Glaw F Rakotondrazafy N A 2011 Phelsuma grandis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011 e T193490A8863630 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2011 2 RLTS T193490A8863630 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 Beolens B Watkins M Grayson M 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles The Johns Hopkins University Press p 206 ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Raxworthy Christopher J Ingram Colleen M Rabibisoa Nirhy Pearson Richard G Weins John 1 December 2007 Applications of ecological niche modeling for species delimitation a review and empirical evaluation using day geckos Phelsuma from Madagascar Systematic Biology 56 6 907 923 doi 10 1080 10635150701775111 PMID 18066927 Rocha Sara Rosler Herbert Gehring Philip Sebastian Glaw Frank Posada David Harris D James Vences Miguel 19 April 2010 Phylogenetic systematics of day geckos genus Phelsuma based on molecular and morphological data Squamata Gekkonidae Zootaxa 2429 1 1 28 doi 10 11646 zootaxa 2429 1 1 a b Giant Day Gecko GeckoWeb Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 6 March 2016 Healey Mariah Giant Day Gecko Care Sheet ReptiFiles Retrieved 2022 01 18 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Glaw F and Vences M 2007 A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar 3rd edition ISBN 978 3 929449 03 7 a b Zug George R 28 June 2013 Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands A Comprehensive Guide University of California Press pp 112 113 ISBN 978 0 520 95540 0 Nonnatives Giant Day Gecko Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 2016 Krysko K L A N Hooper and C M Sheehy III 2003 The Madagascar giant day gecko Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis Gray 1870 Sauria Gekkonidae a new established species in Florida Florida Scientist 66 222 225 Day of the Gecko Hana Hou Hawaiian Airlines 13 6 4 2011 Buckland S Cole N C Aguirre Gutierrez J Gallagher L E Henshaw S M Besnard A Tucker R M Bachraz V Ruhomaun K Harris S Russo D 30 April 2014 Ecological effects of the invasive giant madagascar day gecko on endemic mauritian geckos applications of binomial mixture and species distribution models PLOS ONE 9 4 e88798 doi 10 1371 journal pone 0088798 PMC 4005729 PMID 24785293 Le Mauricien web MWF Attention especes dangereuses LeMauricien Retrieved 30 October 2020 Madagascar Giant Day Gecko Phelsuma grandis iNaturalist Retrieved 2022 01 18 Lamar William W Love Bill 1997 The World s Most Spectacular Reptiles amp Amphibians World Publications p 64 ISBN 978 1 884942 06 8 McKeown Sean 1993 The general care and maintenance of day geckos Lakeside CA USA Advanced Vivarium Systems Further reading EditHenkel F W and W Schmidt 1995 Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars der Maskarenen Seychellen und Komoren Ulmer Stuttgart ISBN 3 8001 7323 9External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phelsuma grandis Giant Day Gecko Care Sheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Phelsuma grandis amp oldid 1150344751, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
