La Digue day gecko
La Digue day gecko (Phelsuma sundbergi ladiguensis BÖHME & MEIER 1981 (syn. Phelsuma madagascariensis (sundbergi) ladiguensis BÖHME & MEIER 1981)) is a diurnal subspecies of geckos. It lives on the islands Ladigue, Felicite and Cocco in the Seychelles, and typically inhabits trees and dwellings. The Seychelles giant day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.
Description
This lizard is large day gecko. It can reach a total length of about 16 cm. The body colour is bright green or bluish green. A faint red stripe extends from the nostril to the eye. On the back there are irregularly shaped redish dots and bars present which can be quite variable in appearance. These geckos have yellow eye rings. The throat is yellow. The ventral side is yellowish white or yellow.
Distribution
This species is found on the islands La Digue, Felicité and Cocco in the Seychelles.
Habitat
Phelsuma sundbergi ladiguensis is often found on different large trees such coconut palms. This species also lives near or on human dwellings.
Diet
These day geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates. They also like to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.
Behaviour
While feeding, these geckos aid in the pollination of palm trees by transferring pollen between female and male trees.
Reproduction
The females of this species are colony nesters and more than 50 eggs can be found at one location. At a temperature of 28°C, the juveniles will hatch after approximately 56–71 days.
Care and maintenance in captivity
These animals should be housed in pairs. They need a large, well planted terrarium. The temperature should be about 28°C during the day. The humidity should be maintained around 65–75% during the day and slightly higher at night. In captivity, these animals can be fed with crickets, wax moth larvae, fruit flies, mealworms and houseflies.
References - Henkel, F.-W. and W. Schmidt (1995) Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Ulmer Stuttgart. ISBN 3800173239
- McKeown, Sean (1993) The general care and maintenance of day geckos. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Lakeside CA.
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