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:
G�nther (1877)
Journal of the Linnean Society
, Zoology, 13:322-327
Li�nard (1842)
Rapport de la Soci�t� d'Histoire Naturelle de Maurice
, (13):55-57
McKeown, Sean (1993)
The general care and maintenance of day geckos
. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Lakeside CA.