Barbour's day gecko
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Barbour's day gecko (Phelsuma barbouri) is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to central Madagascar. It is diurnal and typically dwells on rocks. Barbour's day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.
Etymology
The specific name, barbouri, as well as the common name, Barbour's day gecko, are in honor of American herpetologist Thomas Barbour.[1]
Description
P. barbouri is a middle-sized day gecko. It can reach a total length (including tail) of about Template:Convert. The body colour is brownish green or dark green. Both a dark brown dorso-lateral stripe and a dark brown lateral stripe extend from head to tail. The extremities are normally brown. The tail is unicoloured green and slightly flattened.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Geographic range
P. barbouri inhabits the highlands of central Madagascar in the Ankaratra Mountains, at altitudes of Template:Convert.[2][3]
Habitat
In contrast to other lizards of the genus Phelsuma, P. barbouri is terrestrial and typically lives on stones on the ground or on rocks in savanna habitat.[2] The climate of its habitat is extremely harsh. There is a huge difference in temperature between night and day, and between different seasons. The maximum day temperature is Template:Convert. At night, it is cool and foggy.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Diet
P. barbouri feeds on various insects and other invertebrates.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Behaviour
P. barbouri often lives in small groups. During the day, it flattens its body to catch as much sun as possible. This way it can reach its preferred body temperature. During the night and in the early morning, P. barbouri has a dark colour. However, when it is basking, the body colour becomes brighter.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Reproduction
Adult females of P. barbouri glue their eggs under stones. Since additional females may deposit their eggs at the same location, as many as 50 eggs may be found together. At a temperature of Template:Convert, the young will hatch after approximately 55 days. The neonates measure Template:Convert.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Care and maintenance in captivity
P. barbouri should be housed in pairs and needs a large terrarium which should provide many places to hide. Group breeding, however, is possible. The terrarium should be earth-based with a number of flat rocks present. It is important that there be some spot lights for basking. The daytime temperature should be around Template:Convert, while at night the temperature should drop to Template:Convert. In captivity, it can be fed crickets, wax moths, fruit flies, mealworms, and houseflies.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
References
Further reading
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". 194 pp. (Phelsuma barbouri, p. 115).
- Glaw F, Vences M (2006). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Third Edition. Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag. 496 pp. Template:ISBN.
- Henkel F-W, Schmidt W (1995). Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Stuttgart: Ulmer. Template:ISBN. (in German).
- Loveridge A (1942). "Revision of the Afro-Oriental Geckos of the Genus Phelsuma ". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College 89 (10): 438-481. ("Phelsuma barbouri, new species, pp. 439, 458-459).
- McKeown, Sean (1993). The General Care and Maintenance of Day Geckos. Lakeside, California: Advanced Vivarium Systems.
- ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. Template:ISBN. (Phelsuma barbouri, p. 16).
- ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namediucn - ↑ Species Phelsuma barbouri at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.