Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Rodrigues giant day gecko

Rodrigues giant day gecko
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Sub-order:Sauria
Family: Gekkonidae
Subfamily: Gekkoninae
Genus: Phelsuma
Species: gigas
Binomial name
Phelsuma gigas

Table of contents
1 Scientific name:
2 Scientific synonyms:
3 Common name:
4 General introduction:
5 Description:
6 Distribution:
7 Habitat:
8 Diet:
9 References:

Scientific name:

Phelsuma gigas (LI�NARD 1842)

Scientific synonyms:

Gecko gigas LI�NARD 1842
Gecko newtoni Hoffstetter, 1946
Phelsuma gigas Vinson & Vinson, 1969

Common name:

Rodrigues giant day gecko

General introduction:

This diurnal gecko is now extinct. It lived on Rodrigues and surrounding islands. It typically dwelled on trees. The Rodrigues giant day gecko fed on insects and nectar.

Description:

This Phelsuma was to the largest known day gecko. It reached a total length of about 40 cm. The body colour was grayish or grayish brown. On the back there were irregular black spottings. The tail had some striping and was charcoal- or dark gray-coloured. The tongue had a pink colour and the ventral side was light yellow. The original collected specimens which were used to describe this species, have been lost. Today, only a few portions of some skeletons remain.

Distribution:

This species inhabited Rodrigues and surrounding islands. P. gigas was last collected in 1842 on the offshore islet of Ile aux Fregates.

Habitat:

P. gigas lived in forests on trees. Their original habitat was largely destroyed by humans and as a result of introduction of rats and cats.

Diet:

These day geckos fed on various insects and other invertebrates. They also liked to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.

References: