Andaman Islands day gecko (Phelsuma andamanense BLYTH 1861) is a species of geckos. It is a small, slender lizard, has a bright green colour and feeds on insects. It is only found on the Andaman Islands.
The body of this day gecko is bright green with red dots and stripes on the back. Males have a bluish or turquoise coloured tail. On both sides of the snout, a redish-brown stripe is extending from the nostrils to the ear. The undersurface of the body is bright yellow or off-white.
Habitat:
This species inhabits lowland where is typically found in domestic gardens with coconut palms and banana trees. It also sometimes lives on local huts.
Behaviour:
These shy day geckos are extremely aggressive toward other members of its species.
Reproduction:
Phelsuma andamanense normally lays two eggs in a protected and elevated location. The females can be extraordinarily fertile. It has been observed that during a period of 18 months, 14 pairs of eggs were laid.
References:
Henkel, F.-W. and W. Schmidt (1995) Amphibien und Reptilien Madagascars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Ulmer Stuttgart. ISBN 3-8001-7323-9
McKeown, Sean (1993) The general care and maintenance of day geckos. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Lakeside CA.
The one exception is Phelsumaandamanense, which is endemic to the Andaman islands in the Bay of Bengal.
The genus Phelsuma was first described by the British zoologist John Edward Gray in 1825 and named after the Dutch physician Murk van Phelsum.
Two Phelsuma species (Phelsuma gigas and Phelsuma edwardnewtoni) are now considered to be extinct, probably due to the destruction of their environment by human settlers and their domestic animals.
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