Phelsuma Phelsuma : Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Squamata : Sauria : Gekkonidae : Gekkoninae : Phelsuma Phelsumas are small lizards which are also known as day geckos. Day geckos are lizards and belong to the Gecko family. Most members of the genus Phelsuma have attractive vivid colours which make them popular terrarium pets. Description In contrast to most other gecko species, members of the genus Phelsuma are active mainly during the day. Other diurnal geckos are members of the genus Lygodactylus and the genus Gonatodes. Phelsumas have rounded pupils and a clear, fixed plate covering their eyes which they clean with their tongue. Phelsumas do not have eyelids. Many species have bright green, red and blue colours which make them popular terrarium or vivarium pets. These brilliant colours play a role in intraspecies recognition and also serve as camouflage. The length of the different Day gecko species varies between about 6.5 to 30 cm (2.5-12 in.). Phelsumas have toe pads consisting of tiny lamellae which allow them to walk on plain surfaces like bamboo or glass. The inner toe and thumb are vestigial. Males have well developed femoral pores on the undersurface of the rear limbs. These pores are less developed or absent in females. Females often have well developed endolymphatic chalk sacs on the sides of their neck. In these sacks, calcium is stored which is needed for egg production. Those eggs can often been seen shining through the ventral surface of the body shortly before they are laid. The hatchlings reach sexual maturity between 6-12 months. Smaller species may live up to ten years whereas the larger species have been reported to live more than 20 years in captivity. Distribution & Habitat Day geckos inhabit the islands of the south-east part of the Indian Ocean. The one exception is Phelsuma andamanense, which is endemic to the Andaman islands in the Bay of Bengal. The main distribution of day geckos is Madagascar which may also be the origin of the genus Phelsuma. Some species are found on neighbouring island groups (Mascarenes, Seychelles, Comoros) and the coast of East Africa. The different Phelsuma species can be found from sea level up to 2300 meters above sea level. Most day geckos are arboreal. They inhabit, amongst others, (coconut) palms and banana trees, but can also be found near human settlements, in gardens, on fences, houses and huts. Other species can also be found on rocks Diet Day geckos feed on various kinds of insects and other invertebrates. They also like to eat nectar, pollen and probably soft, ripe and sweet fruits such as bananas. In captivity, these geckos should be provided with a similar diet. The different Phelsuma-species differ in size from about 6.5 to 30 cm (2.5-12 in.). Therefor, the size of the insects which are offered should be adapted to the animal size. Some insects which can be fed are: (wingless) fruit flies, different flies, wax moths, crickets, small super worms, small butter worms and mealworms. Day geckos should be provided with sliced fruit, such as papaya, or a small amount of banana a few times a week. Also fruit baby food or some commercial gecko nectar may be suitable. Classification of the genus Phelsuma GRAY 1825 The genus Phelsuma was first described by the British zoologist John Edward Gray in 1825 and named after the Dutch physician Murk van Phelsum. The genus consists of about 70 known species and subspecies. Two Phelsuma species (Phelsuma gigas and Phelsuma edwardnewtoni) are now considered to be extinct, probably because of destruction of their environment by human settlers and their domestic animals. Many day gecko species are endangered today because more and more of their habitat, such as (rain) forest, is being destroyed on Madagascar and other islands. Phelsuma abbotti Phelsuma abbotti abbotti (Aldabra Island day gecko) Phelsuma abbotti chekei (Cheke's day gecko) Phelsuma abbotti pulchra Phelsuma abbotti sumptio (Assumption Island day gecko) Phelsuma andamanense (Andaman Islands day gecko) Phelsuma antanosy Phelsuma astriata Phelsuma astriata astriata (Seychelles small day gecko) Phelsuma astriata semicarinata Phelsuma astriata astovei Phelsuma barbouri (Barbour's day gecko) Phelsuma berghofi Phelsuma borbonica Phelsuma borbonica borbonica (Reunion Island day gecko) Phelsuma borbonica mater Phelsuma borbonica agalegae (Agalega day gecko) Phelsuma breviceps Phelsuma cepediana (Blue-tailed day gecko) Phelsuma comorensis Phelsuma dubia (Dull day gecko) Phelsuma edwardnewtoni (Rodrigues day gecko) Phelsuma flavigularis (Yellow-throated day gecko) Phelsuma gigas (Rodrigues giant day gecko) Phelsuma guentheri (Round Island day gecko) Phelsuma guimbeaui Phelsuma guimbeaui guimbeaui (Mauritius lowland forest day gecko) Phelsuma guimbeaui rosagularis (Mauritius upland forest day gecko) Phelsuma guttata (Speckled day gecko) Phelsuma hielscheri Phelsuma inexpectata (Reunion Island ornate day gecko) Phelsuma kely Phelsuma klemmeri (Yellow-headed day gecko) Phelsuma laticauda Phelsuma laticauda laticauda (Gold dust day gecko) Phelsuma laticauda angularis Phelsuma lineata Phelsuma lineata lineata (Lined day gecko) Phelsuma lineata bifasciata Phelsuma lineata chloroscelis Phelsuma lineata bombetokensis Phelsuma lineata dorsivittata Phelsuma lineata punctulata Phelsuma madagascariensis Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis (Madagascar day gecko) Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis (Madagascar giant day gecko) Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi (Koch's giant day gecko) Phelsuma madagascariensis boehmei (Boehme%27s_giant_day_gecko) Phelsuma malamakibo Phelsuma masohoala Phelsuma modesta Phelsuma modesta modesta Phelsuma modesta leiogaster Phelsuma modesta isakae Phelsuma mutabilis Phelsuma nigristriata Phelsuma ocellata Phelsuma ornata (Mauritius ornate day gecko) Phelsuma parkeri (Pemba Island day gecko) Phelsuma pronki Phelsuma pusilla Phelsuma pusilla pusilla Phelsuma pusilla hallmanni Phelsuma quadriocellata Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata (Four spot day gecko) Phelsuma quadriocellata bimaculata Phelsuma quadriocellata lepida Phelsuma quadriocellata parva Phelsuma robertmertensi (Robert Merten's day gecko) Phelsuma seippi (Seipp‘s day gecko) Phelsuma serraticauda (Flat-tailed day gecko) Phelsuma standingi (Standing's day gecko) Phelsuma sundbergi Phelsuma sundbergi sundbergi (Seychelles giant day gecko) Phelsuma sundbergi ladiguensis (La Digue day gecko) Phelsuma sundbergi longinsulae (Mahé day gecko) Phelsuma trilineata Phelsuma vanheygeni Phelsuma v-nigra Phelsuma v-nigra pasteuri (Pasteur's day gecko) Phelsuma v-nigra v-nigra Phelsuma v-nigra anjouanensis Phelsuma v-nigra comoraegrandensis (Grand Comoro day gecko) Explanation of the Latin names of Phelsuma species abbotti: after Mr. W.L. Abbott agalagae: from Agalega (island) andamanensis: from the Andaman Islands angularis: angular anjouanensis: from Anjouan (island) astovei: from Astove (island) astriata: without stripes (in comparison to Phelsuma lineata lineata) barbouri: after Mr. Barbour befotankensis: from Befotaka bimaculata: with two blotches, spots boehmei: after Mr. Wolfgang Böhme bombetokensis: from Bombetoka (bay) borbonica: from Bourbon (island, now called Réunion) breviceps: short headed cepediana: after Mr. de Lacépède checkei: after Mr. Athony. S. Checke chloroscelis: with (leaf)green thighs comoraegrandensis: from Grande Comoros (island) comorensis: from the Comoros (island group) dorsivittata: back wrapped in ribbons dubia:doubtful edwardnewtonii: after Mr. Edward Newton flavigularis: with a yellow throat grandis: big guentheri: after Mr. Albert Günther guimbeaui: after Mr. B. Guimbeau guttata: with teardrop formed spots hallmannii: after Mr. G. Hallmann inexpectata: unexpected kely: small (in Malagasy language) kochi: after Mr. K.L. Koch ladiguensis: from la Digue (island) laticauda: with a broad, flattened tail leiogaster: smooth scales (belly) leiura: smooth tail scales lineata : striped longinsulae: from Long island madagascariensis: from Madagascar Martensi: after Mr. Karl Martens menaiensis: from Menai (eiland) minuthi: after Mr. W. Minuth modesta: modest mutabilis: variable, changeable nigristriata: with black stripes notissima: most well known ornata: ornated parkeri: after Mr. Park parva: small pasteuri: after Mr. Georges Pasteur Phelsuma: after Mr. Murk van Phelsum pulchra: beautiful punctulata: with small spots pusilla: tiny quadriocellata: with four eyes robertmertensi: after Mr. Robert Mertens rosagularis: with a rose-coloured throat rubra : red(-hot) seippi: after Mr. Robert Seipp semicarinata: semi-keeled, seems keeled (scales) serraticauda: witha serrated tail standingi: after Mr. Standing sumptio:1) from Assumption (island), 2) from sumptuous (posture, build) sundbergi: after Mr. H. Sundberg trilineata: with three stripes umbrae: shaded v-nigra: with a black V(-marking) venusta: sweet vinsoni: after Mr. J. Vinson & J.M. Vinson References for references see: Phelsuma references External links Phelsumania.com Gekkota.org Most Popular Articles: Music    Musical Instruments    Guitar    Classical Music    History    Music Definition    Country Music    Rock Music    Pop Music    Hip Hop    Rap    DJ    Video Games    Casino Games    Poker    Blackjack    Casinos    Real Estate    Loan    Auction    eBay    Marketing    Search Engine Optimization    File Sharing    MP3    Music Industry    Kazaa    Internet    Supermodel    Fashion    Fashion Designers    Erotica    Modeling    Clothing    Boots    Shoes    Diamond Engagement Rings    Diamond    Rugs    Gospel Music    Affiliate    E-Commerce    Radio This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html You may copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license. 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