Peacock day gecko

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Peacock day gecko
Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata, male, adult, in the terrarium

Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata , male, adult, in the terrarium

Systematics
Superordinate : Scale lizards (Lepidosauria)
Order : Scale reptiles (Squamata)
without rank: Geckos (gekkota)
Family : Geckos (Gekkonidae)
Genre : Day geckos ( Phelsuma )
Type : Peacock day gecko
Scientific name
Phelsuma quadriocellata
( Peters , 1883)

The peacock day gecko ( Phelsuma quadriocellata ), also known as the day gecko or four-spot day gecko, is a lizard in the gecko family (Geckonidae).

Name explanation and description

Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata , male, adult, in the terrarium
Phelsumen are very skilled at climbing

Phelsuma quadriocellata gets its name from the four very distinctive spots on its body. A larger black spot can be seen behind the front legs, often outlined in light blue. Sometimes there is also another, reddish border of these so-called posthumeral spots. In the nominate form , which is described here, there is a similar, but often smaller, so-called prefemoral spot in front of the hind legs, which is not outlined in light blue. The scientific species name also refers to these eye-shaped spots: "Quattuor" means "four" and "ocellus" means "eye". Similar to Phelsuma lineata , a black line runs from the underside of the snout to the prefemoral spot. Because of such similarities, the peacock-eye day gecko is classified in the Lineata group of the Phelsumen. The underside is white or yellowish. His iris is red, sometimes orange-red. The daytime eye spot gecko has a bright green basic color, usually also an intense red spot on the upper side, which is variable. The head and neck are often dotted blue, in males the tail sometimes shines in the same blue color. This species is counted among the smaller phelsumen species. Both sexes of the nominate form and Phelsuma quadriocellata bimaculata are 10, the subspecies Phelsuma quadriocellata lepida up to 12.5 centimeters long.

Gender differences

Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata , female, adult, in the terrarium

Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata males have enlarged preanoferal pores and a more massive, especially broader head. The coloring of the females does not necessarily have to be different - as here.

Occurrence and habitat

Satellite photo of Madagascar with the island-like distribution of Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata in mountain rainforests

The terra typica is Perinet in eastern Madagascar . Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata inhabits higher-lying rainforest areas at very high points and can also be found on banana trees. He has a certain preference for smooth, wide leaves. He lives in very rainy areas. The annual average rains around 3000 mm. In accordance with its occurrence in higher areas, its habitat is comparatively cool for Malagasy habitats: in the southern winter (July, August), temperatures rise to a maximum of 23 degrees Celsius and drop to below 10 degrees Celsius at night. In the southern summer (November, December) the maximum temperatures rise in its habitat to around 30 degrees Celsius, sometimes they are also higher.

Terrarium keeping

A satisfactory basis of offspring of this kind is not yet available, so that these animals are often imported.

Subspecies

From Phelsuma quadriocellata three subspecies are described , The former subspecies Phelsuma quadriocellata parva is now as a separate species Phelsuma parva viewed:

  • Phelsuma quadriocellata quadriocellata ( Peters , 1883)
  • Phelsuma quadriocellata bimaculata Kaudern , 1922
  • Phelsuma quadriocellata lepida Kruger , 1993

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Phelsuma quadriocellata in The Reptile Database

Web links

Commons : Peacock day gecko ( Phelsuma quadriocellata )  - Collection of images, videos, and audio files