| Round Island day gecko | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Gekkonidae |
| Subfamily: | Gekkoninae |
| Genus: | Phelsuma |
| Species: | P. guentheri |
| Binomial name | |
| Phelsuma guentheri Boulenger, 1885 |
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The Round Island day gecko, Phelsuma guentheri, also known as Gunther's Gecko, is a species of gecko. It lives on the islet Round Island (Mauritius), and typically dwells on different palm trees. The Round Island day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.
Contents |
This lizard belongs to the largest living day geckos. Males can reach a total length of about 30 centimeters, but often are much smaller. Females of this species are generally smaller than males. The body colour grayish or brown grayish. A dark brown stripe extends from the nostril to above the ear opening. On the back dark spots may be present. In some individuals, the legs and toes have light yellow bars. The ventral side is white or yellowish.
This species originally occurred on Mauritius before rats and cats were introduced. Nowadays, P. guentheri inhabits only Round Island, 22 kilometers north-northeast of Mauritius.
P. guentheri is often found on different palms like bottle palms, fan palms (Latania loddigesii) and pandanus. Since much of the original vegetation is destroyed, also by tropical cylones, P. guentheri is forced to live on rocky crevices.
These days geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates. They also like to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.
The females lay up to 4 pairs of eggs. The young will hatch after approximately 58-104 days. The juveniles measure 75 mm. The eggs are laid normally in June, but they are laid all the way from February-September.
These animals are endangered and are only bred by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust at Jersey Zoological Park.