Madagascar giant day gecko (Phelsuma grandis) is an arboreal species of day gecko. They are native to tropical forests and are bred and sold as exotic pets.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe body color of this lizard is bright green or, rarely, bluish-green. A red stripe extends from the nostril to the eye. On the back, there are typically red-colored dots or bars. These red markings are quite variable, and in some cases, completely absent, though the line extending from the nostril to the eye is always present. Some specimens may have small blue spots. Adult specimens may have large sacs on their necks. These are stored calcium sacks. Young individuals of the species often exhibit much more red than their parents, but as time passes, many of the markings fade, to leave those that will stay for the remainder of the gecko's life. The underside of these animals is a creamy white ranging to an eggy yellow. When stressed, the coloration darkens, rendering the whole animal a dark green, and the red markings on the face and back more orange in hue. Giant day geckos have no eyelids, so to keep their eyes clean, they lick them often.
These geckos are found in tropical and subtropical forests in northern Madagascar. They also occur in cultivated areas, villages, and towns.
Madagascar giant day geckos are solitary and diurnal lizards. The males can be quite quarrelsome and territorial and will not accept other males in their neighborhood. They only allow females to enter their territory. The day geckos may move slowly, but when they are startled they can move very fast. They are known for being very good at escaping their enclosures.
Madagascar giant day geckos are carnivores (insectivores). They feed on various insects and other invertebrates and occasionally have been recorded consuming small vertebrates. They also like to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen, and nectar.
These geckos breed between December and June. During this period, females can lay multiple clutches of eggs. Each clutch consists of 2 eggs. The young will hatch after approximately 48-80 days depending on the temperature. They hatch well-developed and don't require parental care. Young geckos become reproductively mature and start to breed when they are between one and two years old.
Madagascar giant day geckos are not threatened at present but they suffer from the collection for the exotic pet trade.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Madagascar giant day gecko total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
