Pasteur's day gecko

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pasteur's day gecko
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Phelsuma
Species:
Subspecies:
P. v. pasteuri
Trinomial name
Phelsuma v-nigra pasteuri
Meier, 1984
Area of distribution
Synonyms[1]
  • Phelsuma v-nigra pasteuri
    Meier, 1984
  • Phelsuma pasteuri
    Meirte, 1999
  • Phelsuma v-nigra pasteuri
    Rösler, 2000
  • Phelsuma pasteuri
    Hallmann et al., 2008

Pasteur's day gecko (Phelsuma v-nigra pasteuri Meier, 1984; synonym, Phelsuma pasteuri ) is a small diurnal subspecies of gecko. It lives in the Comoros and typically inhabits trees and bushes. Pasteur's day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.

Etymology[edit]

This subspecies (or species) is named pasteuri in honor of French herpetologist Georges Pasteur.[2]

Description[edit]

This lizard belongs to the smallest day geckos. It can reach a maximum length of approximately 11 cm (4.3 in). The body colour is bright green. The tail may be bright blue. There is a red v-shaped stripe on the snout and a red bar between the eyes. On the back there often are a number of small red-brick coloured dots. Typical is the turquoise blue patch in the neck region, which may be segmented by a small red dorsal stripe. A yellow ring around the eye is present. This subspecies doesn't have the typical v-shaped marking on the throat The ventral side is yellowish.

Distribution[edit]

This subspecies only inhabits the island Mayotte in the Comoros.

Habitat[edit]

Phelsuma v-nigra pasteuri is found on bushes and trees along streams.

Diet[edit]

These day geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates. They also like to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.

Care and maintenance in captivity[edit]

These animals should be housed in pairs and need a medium-sized, well planted terrarium. The daytime temperature should be between 28 and 30 °C (82 and 86 °F), and 24 and 26 °C (75 and 79 °F) at night. The humidity should be not too high. A two-month winter cooldown should be included during which temperatures should be 25 °C (77 °F) during daytime and 20 °C (68 °F) at night. In captivity, these animals can be fed with crickets, wax moth larvae, fruit flies, mealworms and houseflies.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Phelsuma pasteuri ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  2. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. "Phelsuma (v-nigra) pasteuri ", p. 201.

Further reading[edit]

  • Henkel F-W, Schmidt W (1995). Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Stuttgart: Ulmer. 311 pp. ISBN 3-8001-7323-9. (in German).
  • McKeown S (1993). The General Care and Maintenance of Day Geckos. Lakeside, California: Advanced Vivarium Systems.
  • Meier H (1984). "Zwei neue Formen der Gattung Phelsuma von den Komoren (Sauria: Gekkonidae) ". Salamandra 20 (1): 32-38. (Phelsuma v-nigra pasteuri, new subspecies). (in German).