Rodrigues giant day gecko (Phelsuma gigas) was an extinct diurnal species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 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....

. It lived on the island of Rodrigues

Rodrigues (island)

Rodrigues , sometimes spelled Rodriguez but named after the Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, is the smallest of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius...

 and surrounding islands and typically dwelt 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 grey-coloured. The tongue had a pink colour and the ventral side was light yellow. The original collected specimens that were used to describe this species, have been lost. Today, only a few portions of some skeletons remain.

Distribution

This species inhabited Rodrigues

Rodrigues (island)

Rodrigues , sometimes spelled Rodriguez but named after the Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, is the smallest of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius...

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.