Phelsuma lineata bombetokensis Mertens

Robert Mertens

Robert Mertens was a German herpetologist. The Robert Mertens' day gecko is a species named after him, and he also postulated Mertensian mimicry....

, 1964 is diurnal

Diurnal animal

Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...

 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 inhabits northwestern Madagascar

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

 and typically occurs on different trees and bushes. This day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.

Description

This lizard belongs to the smallest day geckos. It can reach a total length of about 10 cm. The body colour is light green or brownish green. The mid and lower back is covered with red blotches. A thin red stripe extends from the nostril to the eye. The green dorsal surface is separated from the white underside by a faint dusky dorso-lateral stripe. A blackish purple oval marking is present on the side below the armpit area. Another oval marking is present on the uppermost portion of the rear extremity.

Distribution

This gecko inhabits northwest Madagascar. It is found in the region around Morovay.

Habitat

The original habitat of Phelsuma lineata bombetokensis has been destroyed.This species now inhabits palm trees and bushes.

Diet

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

These animals can be housed in small groups of one male and several females. They need a well planted terrarium. The temperature should be about 28°C (locally around 30°C) during the day and drop to around 20°C at night. The humidity should be maintained around 65%. In captivity, these animals can be fed with crickets, wax moth, fruits flies, mealworms and houseflies.