Phelsuma quadriocellata lepida
Scientific name:
- Phelsuma quadriocellata lepida KRÜGER 1993
General introduction:
- This diurnal gecko lives in north-eastern Madagascar. It typically inhabits different trees and houses. This day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.
Description:
- This lizard belongs to the smallest day geckos. It can reach a total length of about 12.5 cm. The body colour is blueish green. On the neck, little blue speckles is be present. Behind the front limb, there is a large black oval spot, which is light blue outlined. On the back there are irregularly shaped red dots and bars present which form a mid-dorsal stripe between the black oval spots. The tail has a turqoise hue. This subspecies has yellow eye rings. The ventral side is white.
Distribution:
- This subspecies inhabits northeast Madagascar. It is only known from the region around Andapa which is a rainforest area.
Habitat:
- Phelsuma quadriocellata lepida lives in a moist and warm climate. It inhabits different trees. This Phelsuma species might also be found 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:
- These geckos are quite quarrelsome and do not accept other males .
Reproduction:
- The pairing season is between Oktober and the first weeks of Mai. During this period, the females lay one or two eggs with a 3-5 weeks interval. Up to 6 pairs of eggs are laid per year. At a constant temperature of 28°C, the juveniles hatch after 40-45 days. They measure about 30 mm.
Care and maintenance in captivity:
- These animals should be housed in pairs and need a well planted terrarium. The temperature should be about 28°C (locally around 30°C) during the day and drop to around 20°C at night. The humidity should be maintained between 75 and 80% during the day. It is also important to include two colder months with a daytime temperature of 24°C and 16°C 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.