Rodrigues giant day gecko
Conservation status
Extinct
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Gekkonidae Subfamily: Gekkoninae Genus: Phelsuma Species: P. gigas
Binomial name
Phelsuma gigas (Liénard, 1842)
Synonyms
Gecko gigas Liénard, 1842 Gecko newtoni Hoffstetter, 1946

Rodrigues giant day gecko (Phelsuma gigas (Liénard, 1842)) is an extinct diurnal species of geckos. It lived on the island of Rodrigues and surrounding islands and typically dwelled on trees. The Rodrigues giant day gecko fed on insects and nectar.

Description:

This Phelsuma was the largest known day gecko. It reached a total length of about 40 cm. The body colour was grayish or grayish brown. On the back there were irregular black spottings. The tail had some striping and was charcoal- or dark gray-coloured. The tongue had a pink colour and the ventral side was light yellow. The original collected specimens which were used to describe this species, have been lost. Today, only a few portions of some skeletons remain.

Distribution:

This species inhabited Rodrigues and surrounding islands. P. gigas was last collected in 1842 on the offshore islet of Ile aux Fregates.

Habitat:

P. gigas lived in forests on trees. Their original habitat was largely destroyed by humans and as a result of introduction of rats and cats.

Diet:

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

References:

• Günther (1877) Journal of the Linnean Society, Zoology, 13:322-327
• Liénard (1842) Rapport de la Société d'Histoire Naturelle de Maurice, (13):55-57
• McKeown, Sean (1993) The general care and maintenance of day geckos. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Lakeside CA.

References

• World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1996). Phelsuma gigas. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 09 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is listed as extinct

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