Phelsuma Gray, 1825
- Dataset
- English Wikipedia - Species Pages
- Rank
- GENUS
Classification
- genus
- Phelsuma
Abstract
Phelsuma is a large genus of geckos in the family Gekkonidae. Species in the genus Phelsuma are commonly referred to as day geckos. Some day geckos are seriously endangered and some are common, but all Phelsuma species are CITES Appendix II listed. Little is known about trade in day geckos, but the IUCN considers it a threat to some species. Some species are captive-bred.Breeding Endangered Geckos, editor's interview with Matt Schaefer, July 23, 2013
Classification
The genus Phelsuma was first described in 1825 by the British zoologist John Edward Gray, who named it after the Dutch physician Murk van Phelsum.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Phelsuma, p. 206). The genus consists of about 70 known species and subspecies. Two Phelsuma species (Phelsuma gigas and Phelsuma edwardnewtoni), both of which were endemic to the Mascarene island of Rodrigues, are now considered to be extinct, probably due to the destruction of their environments by human settlers and their domestic animals. Many day gecko species are endangered today because an increasing percentage of their natural habitat, especially tropical forest, is being destroyed by human activity. A Phelsuma lineata lineata in Madagascar's Mantadia National Park at Andasibe
A Mauritius ornate day gecko, Phelsuma ornata
Phelsuma abbotti Phelsuma abbotti abbotti – Aldabra Island day gecko Phelsuma abbotti chekei – Cheke's day gecko Phelsuma abbotti sumptio – Assumption Island day gecko Phelsuma andamanensis – Andaman Islands day gecko Phelsuma antanosy Phelsuma astriata – Seychelles day gecko Phelsuma astriata astovei Phelsuma astriata astriata – Seychelles small day gecko Phelsuma astriata semicarinata Phelsuma barbouri – Barbour's day gecko Phelsuma berghofi Phelsuma borai Phelsuma borbonica Phelsuma borbonica agalegae – Agalega day gecko Phelsuma borbonica borbonica – Reunion Island day gecko Phelsuma borbonica mater Phelsuma breviceps Phelsuma cepediana – blue-tailed day gecko Phelsuma comorensis Phelsuma dorsivittata Phelsuma dubia – dull day gecko, Zanzibar day gecko Phelsuma edwardnewtoni – Rodrigues day gecko (extinct, last seen 1917) Phelsuma flavigularis – yellow-throated day gecko Phelsuma gigas – Rodrigues giant day gecko (extinct, last seen 1842) Phelsuma gouldi Phelsuma grandis – Madagascar giant day gecko Phelsuma guentheri – Round Island day gecko Phelsuma guimbeaui – orange-spotted day gecko, Mauritius lowland forest day gecko Phelsuma guttata – speckled day gecko Phelsuma hielscheri Phelsuma hoeschi Phelsuma inexpectata – Reunion Island ornate day gecko Phelsuma kely Phelsuma klemmeri – yellow-headed day gecko Phelsuma kochi Phelsuma laticauda – broad-tailed day gecko Phelsuma laticauda angularis Phelsuma laticauda laticauda – gold dust day gecko Phelsuma lineata Phelsuma lineata bombetokensis Phelsuma lineata elanthana Phelsuma lineata lineata Phelsuma lineata punctulata Phelsuma madagascariensis Phelsuma madagascariensis boehmei – Boehme's giant day gecko Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis – Madagascar day gecko Phelsuma malamakibo Phelsuma masohoala Phelsuma modesta – modest day gecko Phelsuma modesta leiogaster Phelsuma modesta modesta Phelsuma mutabilis – thicktail day gecko Phelsuma nigristriata – island day gecko Phelsuma ornata – Mauritius ornate day gecko Phelsuma parkeri – Pemba Island day gecko Phelsuma parva Phelsuma pasteuri – Pasteur's day gecko Phelsuma pronki Phelsuma pusilla Phelsuma pusilla hallmanni – Hallmann's day gecko Phelsuma pusilla pusilla Phelsuma quadriocellata – peacock day gecko Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata – four-spotted day gecko Phelsuma quadriocellata bimaculata Phelsuma quadriocellata lepida Phelsuma ravenala Phelsuma robertmertensi – Robert Mertens's day gecko Phelsuma roesleri Phelsuma rosagularis – Mauritius upland forest day gecko Phelsuma seippi – Seipp's day gecko Phelsuma serraticauda – flat-tailed day gecko Phelsuma standingi – Standing's day gecko Phelsuma sundbergi – Praslin Island day gecko Phelsuma sundbergi ladiguensis – La Digue day gecko Phelsuma sundbergi longinsulae – Mahé day gecko Phelsuma sundbergi sundbergi – Seychelles giant day gecko Phelsuma vanheygeni Phelsuma v-nigra – Indian day gecko Phelsuma v-nigra anjouanensis – Anjouan Island day gecko Phelsuma v-nigra comoraegrandensis – Grand Comoro day gecko Phelsuma v-nigra v-nigra
Nota bene: A binomial authority or trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Phelsuma.
A Mauritius ornate day gecko, Phelsuma ornata
Phelsuma abbotti Phelsuma abbotti abbotti – Aldabra Island day gecko Phelsuma abbotti chekei – Cheke's day gecko Phelsuma abbotti sumptio – Assumption Island day gecko Phelsuma andamanensis – Andaman Islands day gecko Phelsuma antanosy Phelsuma astriata – Seychelles day gecko Phelsuma astriata astovei Phelsuma astriata astriata – Seychelles small day gecko Phelsuma astriata semicarinata Phelsuma barbouri – Barbour's day gecko Phelsuma berghofi Phelsuma borai Phelsuma borbonica Phelsuma borbonica agalegae – Agalega day gecko Phelsuma borbonica borbonica – Reunion Island day gecko Phelsuma borbonica mater Phelsuma breviceps Phelsuma cepediana – blue-tailed day gecko Phelsuma comorensis Phelsuma dorsivittata Phelsuma dubia – dull day gecko, Zanzibar day gecko Phelsuma edwardnewtoni – Rodrigues day gecko (extinct, last seen 1917) Phelsuma flavigularis – yellow-throated day gecko Phelsuma gigas – Rodrigues giant day gecko (extinct, last seen 1842) Phelsuma gouldi Phelsuma grandis – Madagascar giant day gecko Phelsuma guentheri – Round Island day gecko Phelsuma guimbeaui – orange-spotted day gecko, Mauritius lowland forest day gecko Phelsuma guttata – speckled day gecko Phelsuma hielscheri Phelsuma hoeschi Phelsuma inexpectata – Reunion Island ornate day gecko Phelsuma kely Phelsuma klemmeri – yellow-headed day gecko Phelsuma kochi Phelsuma laticauda – broad-tailed day gecko Phelsuma laticauda angularis Phelsuma laticauda laticauda – gold dust day gecko Phelsuma lineata Phelsuma lineata bombetokensis Phelsuma lineata elanthana Phelsuma lineata lineata Phelsuma lineata punctulata Phelsuma madagascariensis Phelsuma madagascariensis boehmei – Boehme's giant day gecko Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis – Madagascar day gecko Phelsuma malamakibo Phelsuma masohoala Phelsuma modesta – modest day gecko Phelsuma modesta leiogaster Phelsuma modesta modesta Phelsuma mutabilis – thicktail day gecko Phelsuma nigristriata – island day gecko Phelsuma ornata – Mauritius ornate day gecko Phelsuma parkeri – Pemba Island day gecko Phelsuma parva Phelsuma pasteuri – Pasteur's day gecko Phelsuma pronki Phelsuma pusilla Phelsuma pusilla hallmanni – Hallmann's day gecko Phelsuma pusilla pusilla Phelsuma quadriocellata – peacock day gecko Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata – four-spotted day gecko Phelsuma quadriocellata bimaculata Phelsuma quadriocellata lepida Phelsuma ravenala Phelsuma robertmertensi – Robert Mertens's day gecko Phelsuma roesleri Phelsuma rosagularis – Mauritius upland forest day gecko Phelsuma seippi – Seipp's day gecko Phelsuma serraticauda – flat-tailed day gecko Phelsuma standingi – Standing's day gecko Phelsuma sundbergi – Praslin Island day gecko Phelsuma sundbergi ladiguensis – La Digue day gecko Phelsuma sundbergi longinsulae – Mahé day gecko Phelsuma sundbergi sundbergi – Seychelles giant day gecko Phelsuma vanheygeni Phelsuma v-nigra – Indian day gecko Phelsuma v-nigra anjouanensis – Anjouan Island day gecko Phelsuma v-nigra comoraegrandensis – Grand Comoro day gecko Phelsuma v-nigra v-nigra
Nota bene: A binomial authority or trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Phelsuma.
Description
In contrast to most other gecko species, day geckos of the genus Phelsuma are active mainly during the day. Other diurnal geckos include species of the genera Lygodactylus and Gonatodes. Like most other geckos, day geckos lack eyelids, instead having rounded pupils and a clear, fixed plate covering their eyes which they clean with their tongues. Many species have bright green, red, and blue colors which make them popular terrarium or vivarium pets. These brilliant colors play a role in intraspecies recognition and also serve as camouflage. The total length (including tail) of the different Phelsuma species varies between about 6.5 and, but the extinct Rodrigues giant day gecko was even larger. Day geckos have toe pads consisting of tiny lamellae which allow them to walk on plain vertical and inverted surfaces like bamboo or glass. The inner toe on each foot is vestigial. Males have well-developed femoral pores on the undersurface of their rear limbs. These pores are less developed or absent in females. Females often have well-developed endolymphatic chalk sacs on the sides of their necks. These sacs store calcium, which is needed for egg production. Those eggs can often be seen through the ventral surface of the female's body shortly before they are laid. The hatchlings reach sexual maturity between six and 12 months old. Smaller species may live up to 10 years, whereas the larger species have been reported to live more than 20 years in captivity.
Diet
Gold dust day gecko
Day geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates in the wild. They also eat nectar, pollen, and occasionally soft, ripe and sweet fruits such as bananas. In captivity, such a diet is simulated. Insects which may be used include: (wingless) fruit flies, various flies, wax moths, crickets, small super worms, small butter worms and mealworms. Fruit, which is required a few times a week, may be small pieces of papaya, banana, or other sweet fruit and also commercial gecko nectars. In 2008 a BBC film crew took footage of a day gecko successfully begging a planthopper for honeydew.
Day geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates in the wild. They also eat nectar, pollen, and occasionally soft, ripe and sweet fruits such as bananas. In captivity, such a diet is simulated. Insects which may be used include: (wingless) fruit flies, various flies, wax moths, crickets, small super worms, small butter worms and mealworms. Fruit, which is required a few times a week, may be small pieces of papaya, banana, or other sweet fruit and also commercial gecko nectars. In 2008 a BBC film crew took footage of a day gecko successfully begging a planthopper for honeydew.
Distribution and habitat
Day geckos inhabit the islands of the south-west part of the Indian Ocean. The exceptions are Phelsuma andamanense, which is endemic to the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, and Phelsuma dubia, which is also found on the East Coast of mainland Africa, although it possibly was introduced there. Most Phelsumas species are found in Mauritius and Madagascar. Some species are found on neighboring island groups, including the Mascarenes, Seychelles, and Comoros. Due to human introduction, they are also often found on some of the Hawaiian Islands, including the Big Island, Maui and Kauai, and the state of Florida, where they were introduced as a form of pest control. The different Phelsuma species can be found from sea level up to 2,300 meters. 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. An exception, Phelsuma barbouri, is a terrestrial species.
Explanation of the species epithets
abbotti: after W. L. Abbott. agalagae: from Agalega. andamanensis: from the Andaman Islands. angularis: angular (refers to the tail). anjouanensis: from Anjouan (island). astovei: from Astove (island). astriata: without stripes (in comparison to Phelsuma lineata lineata). barbouri: after Barbour. befotakensis: from Befotaka. bimaculata: with two blotches, spots. boehmei: after Wolfgang Böhme. bombetokensis: from Bombetoka (bay). borbonica: from Bourbon (now called Réunion). breviceps: short headed. cepediana: after Bernard Germain Étienne de la Ville, Comte de Lacépède. checkei: after Anthony. S. Checke. chloroscelis: with (leaf) green thighs. comoraegrandensis: from Grande Comoros. comorensis: from the Comoros (island group). dorsivittata: back wrapped in ribbons. dubia: edwardnewtonii: after Edward Newton. flavigularis: with a yellow throat. grandis: big. guentheri: after Albert Günther. guimbeaui: after B. Guimbeau. guttata: with teardrop formed spots. hallmannii: after G. Hallmann. inexpectata: unexpected. kely: small (in the Malagasy language). kochi: after 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 Karl Martens. menaiensis: from Menai. minuthi: after W. Minuth. modesta: modest. mutabilis: variable, changeable. nigristriata: with black stripes. notissima: best known. ornata: ornated. parkeri: after Park. parva: small. pasteuri: after Georges Pasteur. Phelsuma: after Murk van Phelsum. pulchra: beautiful. punctulata: with small spots. pusilla: tiny. quadriocellata: with four eyes. robertmertensi: after Robert Mertens. rosagularis: with a rose-coloured throat. rubra: red(-hot). seippi: after Robert Seipp. semicarinata: semi-keeled (scales). serraticauda: with a serrated tail. standingi: after Standing. sumptio:. from Assumption Island. from sumptuous (posture, build). sundbergi: after H. Sundberg. umbrae: shaded. v-nigra: with a black V (marking). venusta: sweet. vinsoni: after Jean Vinson and Jean-Michel Vinson.-->
Taxonomy
The genus itself is thought to have originated anywhere between the Late Cretaceous to the mid-Eocene (43 to 75 mya), as that is when its lineage is known to have diverged from the one containing the Namaqua day gecko (Rhoptropella), although it is unknown how closely related both genera are. The crown group containing all recent species is thought to have originated in the early Oligocene, about 30 million years ago, with the most basal of them being the isolated Andaman day gecko (P. andamanensis), which diverged from all other species shortly after the crown group originated. Most of the other divergence among species in areas of the Western Indian Ocean such as the Seychelles is thought to have occurred in the Neogene.
Name
- Homonyms
- Phelsuma Gray, 1825