Round Island day gecko

The Round Island day gecko, Phelsuma guentheri, also known as Günther's gecko, is an endangered 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.

Round Island day gecko
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Phelsuma
Species:
P. guentheri
Binomial name
Phelsuma guentheri
Boulenger, 1885

Etymology

The specific name, guentheri, is in honor of German-born British herpetologist Albert Günther.[2]

Description

P. guentheri is one of the largest living day geckos. Males can reach a total length of about 30 cm (12 in), but often are much smaller. Females of this species are generally very much smaller than males. The body color is grayish or grayish brown. 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.

Geographic range

P. guentheri originally occurred on Mauritius before rats and cats were introduced. Now, it inhabits only Round Island, 22 km (14 mi) north-northeast of Mauritius.

Habitat

P. guentheri is often found on bottle palms, fan palms (Latania loddigesii ), and Pandanus. Since much of the original vegetation is destroyed, by tropical cyclones, P. guentheri is forced to live in rocky crevices.

Diet

Round Island day geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates. They also lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen, and nectar.

Reproduction

The females lay up to four pairs of eggs. The young will hatch after about 58–104 days. The juveniles measure 75 mm (3.0 in). The eggs are laid normally in June, but can be laid from February to September.

Care and maintenance in captivity

These animals are endangered and were bred and kept by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust at Durrell Wildlife Park until 1999. No specimens are kept in captive public hands outside of Mauritius

References
  1. Cole, N., Outlaw, L., Vencatasamy, D. & Mootoocurpen, R. 2018. Phelsuma guentheri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T16926A13482659. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T16926A13482659.en. Downloaded on 20 December 2018.
  2. Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Phelsuma guentheri, pp. 110-111).

Further reading
  • Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. (Phelsuma guentheri, new species, p. 213).
  • Carpenter AI, Côte IM, Jones CG (2003). "Habitat use, egg laying sites and activity patterns of an endangered Mauritian gecko (Phelsuma guentheri)". Herpetological Journal 13: 155-157.
  • Wheler CL, Fa JE (1995). "Enclosure Utilization and Activity of Round Island Geckos (Phelsuma guentheri)". Zoo Biology 14: 361-369.
  • Henkel F-W, Schmidt W (1995). Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Stuttgart: Ulmer. ISBN 3-8001-7323-9. (in German).
  • McKeown, Sean (1993). The general care and maintenance of day geckos. Lakeside, California: Advanced Vivarium Systems.
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