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Squamata, Sauria: Gekkonidae, Gekkoninae - Phelsuma, The Day Geckos
The Malagasy Day Geckos are spectacular for their color and adaptations for long distance over-water dispersal. Austin et al. (2004, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 31:109-122) used mitochondrial and nuclear genes to demonstrate that Phelsuma has a sister relationship with the living southwest African Namib Day Geckos of the genus Rhoptropella. Phelsuma evolved first in Madagascar and dispersed multiple times into the islands of the Indian Ocean. The Mascarenes Islands were probably colonized 4 to 5 million years ago by this genus. Currently there are about 65 recognized species and subspecies.
Seychelles Day Gecko, Phelsuma astraiata

Seychelles Day Gecko, Phelsuma astraiata Tornier, 1901. Photograph of a captive raised animal. Known from the Seychelles including Astove atoll, the southernmost island of the Seychelles, and part of the Aldabra-group, in the Indian Ocean. They live in coastal areas with coconut palms, agaves, Pandanus sp. and banana plants. They also use areas around human habitations.

Side Striped Day Gecko, Phelsuma linetata

Side Striped Day Gecko, Phelsuma linetata (Gray, 1846). Photograph of a captive raised animal. Inhabits coastal Madagascar. Adults to 120 mm.This specimen was said to represent the subspecies P. l. chloroscelis.

Boettger's Day Gecko, Phelsuma dubia

Boettger's Day Gecko, Phelsuma dubia (Boettger, 1881). Photograph of a captive raised animal. Hatchling

Boettger's Day Gecko, Phelsuma dubia

Boettger's Day Gecko, Phelsuma dubia (Boettger, 1881). Photograph of a captive raised animal. Adult size can be 155 mm. Found in Madagascar, on all four Comoro Islands, the southern Kenyan coast, the Tanzanian coast and its islands: Pemba, Zanzibar and Mafia Island.  Uses tree plantations and buildings.

Giant Malagsy Day Gecko, Phelsuma madacascarensis

Giant Malagsy Day Gecko, Phelsuma madagascarensis grandis (Gray, 1870). Photograph of a captive raised hatchling. Inhabits northern coastal Madagascar. Occurs in tree plantations, and buildings. Exceptionally large adults may reach 300 mm in total length, usually less than 280 mm.

Comoro Island Day Gecko, Phelsuma laticauda

Comoro Island Day Gecko, Phelsuma laticauda (Boettger, 1880) Photographs of captive raised animals. Known from northern Madagascar, two of the Comoro Islands (Anjouan and Mayotte), on the Farquhar atoll in Seychelles. It has also been introduced in to the Hawaiian Islands.

Comoro Island Day Gecko, Phelsuma laticauda
Ornate Day Gecko, Phelsuma ornata

Ornate Day Gecko, Phelsuma ornata Gray, 1825. Photograph of a captive raised animal. Endemic to the Mascarene island of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean.

Four-spot Day Gecko, Phelsuma quadriocellata

Four-spot Day Gecko, Phelsuma quadriocellata (Peters, 1883). Photograph of a captive raised animal. It is endemic to eastern Madagascar, it is not found in coastal areas. Adults reach 120 mm.

Rendahl's Day Gecko, Phelsuma sundbergi

Rendahl's Day Gecko, Phelsuma sundbergi Rendahl, 1939. Photograph of a captive raised animal. Known from Praslin, Curieuse, Chauve Souris, Round, Denis, Platte, Desroches, Marie-Louise and Poivre Island, these are islands of the Seychelles Archipelago. It has apparently been introduced to the coral island of the Amirantes.

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Orange Spotted Day Gecko, Phelsuma v-nigra Boettger, 1913. Photograph of a captive raised animal. Endemic to the Comoro Islands.

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