REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: GEKKONIDAE: Phelsuma

Phelsuma guentheri Boulenger

Round Island day gecko

Photos & text by Dr. Robert Sprackland.

Extremely rare species.

Range: Restricted to Round Island, near Mauritius, Indian Ocean.

Diagnosis: A day gecko with an olive or olive gray body that lacks spots or other markings.

Description: A robust lizard with a depressed and acute snout. The nostril is small and near the snout tip. The body scales are granular.

Natural History: These geckos are endemic to a tiny wind-swept island where temperatures rarely exceed 78° F. The extensive denuding of the island by goats and the effects of massive Cyclone Gervaise in 1975 reduced the population of this species to dangerously low levels, probably to 1,500 individuals or less. Subsequent to that several zoos have been able to reproduce the lizards in captivity and reintroduce them to Round Island. Populations are now increasing in size.

Reproduction: Lays two hard-shelled eggs per year.

Taxonomy & Relationships:

Variation:

Additional Comments:

Type Specimen:

Literature:

Mertens, Robert. 1963. The geckos of the genus Phelsuma on Mauritius and adjacent islands. The Mauritius Institute Bulletin 5(7):299-305.

Sprackland, Robert. 1981. Oklahoma City Zoo acquires rare Round Island gecko. Zoosounds 17(6):13.