Phelsuma astriata semicarinata (syn. Phelsuma astriata - Kluge, 1993) is a subspecies

Subspecies

Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...

 of gecko

Gecko

Geckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....

s. It is a small, slender lizard, has a bright green colour and feeds on insects. It is found on different islands of the Seychelles

Seychelles

Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....

, where it often lives near human dwellings.

Description

The body of this smallish day gecko is lime green with rost-coloured dots and bars on the back which are irregularly shaped. Those reddish dots form a thin mid-dorsdal stripe, which may be broken and may have some bars extending from it. There is a rust-coloured stripe between the nostril and the eye. On the head there is a rust-coloured, v-shaped marking with two transverse bars. Males often have a bluish or turquoise coloured tail and lower back. On both sides of the snout, a reddish-brown stripe is extending from the nostrils to the eye. The undersurface of the body is white. These lizards reach a total length of about 12.5 cm.

Habitat

This species is typically found on coconut palms and banana trees. It often lives near human settlements.

Reproduction

Phelsuma astriata semicarinata normally lays two 10 mm large eggs. The eggs are not glued to leaves, as this species is among the "non-gluer" variety. Eggs should generally hatch in 70 - 75 days and should be incubated at approximately 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Care and maintenance in captivity

Phelsuma astriata semicarinata should be housen in pairs. They need a vertically-oriented and well planted terrarium with vertically-oriented and horizontally-oriented bambus sticks as thick as a thumb.