Andaman Islands day gecko
| Geckos | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Gekkonidae |
| Subfamily: | Gekkoninae |
| Genus: | Phelsuma |
| Species: | P. andamanense |
| Binomial name | |
| Phelsuma andamanense Blyth, 1861 |
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Andaman Islands Day gecko (Phelsuma andamanense) is a species of geckos. It is a small, slender lizard, has a bright green colour and feeds on insects. It is found only on the Andaman Islands. It is noteworthy that its range is nearly 5000 km away from the center of the distribution area of the genus Phelsuma.[1]
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[edit] Scientific synonyms
- Gecko chameleon Tytler, 1864
- Phelsuma madagascariensis- Loveridge, 1942: 467
- Phelsuma andamanensis Mertens, 1962
- Phelsuma andamanensis Börner, 1984
- Phelsuma andamanensis Kluge, 1993
- Phelsuma andamanensis Rösler, 2000: 101
[edit] Description
The body of this day gecko is bright green with red dots and stripes on the back. Males have a bluish or turquoise coloured tail. On both sides of the snout, a reddish-brown stripe is extending from the nostrils to the ear. The undersurface of the body is bright yellow or off-white.
[edit] Habitat
Phelsuma andamanense inhabits lowlands where is typically found in domestic gardens on coconut palms, screw pines, banana trees and on sisal plants.[2] It also sometimes lives on local huts.
[edit] Behaviour
These shy day geckos are extremely aggressive toward other members of its species.
[edit] Reproduction
Phelsuma andamanense normally lays two eggs in a protected and elevated location. The females can be extraordinarily fertile. It has been observed that during a period of 18 months, 14 pairs of eggs were laid.
[edit] References
- Henkel, F.-W. and W. Schmidt (1995) Amphibien und Reptilien Madagascars, 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.
