| Blue-tailed Day Gecko |
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Blue-tailed day gecko ('''''Phelsuma cepediana''''' Merrem , 1820) is a Diurnal Species of Gecko s. It lives on the island Mauritius and typically inhabits warm and humid places and dwells on different trees and bushes. The Blue-tailed day gecko feeds on insects and nectar. SCIENTIFIC SYNONYMS:
DESCRIPTION: This lizard belongs to the middle sized day geckos. It can reach a total length of about 15 cm. There always is a dorso-lateral strip present, which may be broken. A red stripe extends from the nostril to the shoulder. The male body colour is light green or bluish green. The back of males has a bright blue colour and is covered with dark red spots and dashes. The males have a deep blue tail. Females lack the brilliant blue colour of the males. They have a bright green back and rust-coloured spots. DISTRIBUTION: This species inhabits the island Mauritius where it is widely distributed. ''P. cepediana'' may also have been introduced to Madagascar where it has been reported a few times, amongst others in the region of Iviloina. These observations have not been confirmed though. HABITAT: ''P. cepediana'' is mainly found on bushes and trees such as coconut palms, traveler's palms, banana trees and papayas. They also inhabit gardens and houses in suburban areas. These geckos prefer a moist and warm climate. McKeown (1993) mentions that the original vegetation of Mauritius has been largely replaced with agricultural crops where these day geckos cannot live. DIET: These day geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates. They also like to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar. BEHAVIOUR: This ''Phelsuma'' spec. can be quite aggressive both toward their own and to other ''Phelsuma'' species. In captivity, where the females cannot escape, the males can also sometimes seriously wound a female. In this case the male and female must be separated. REPRODUCTION: The females lay their eggs in a protected location. These Phelsumas glue their eggs. At a temperature of 28°C, the young will hatch after approximately 40–45 days. The juveniles measure 40 mm. CARE AND MAINTENANCE IN CAPTIVITY: These animals should be housed in pairs and need a large, well planted terrarium. It is important to provide the terrarium with sufficient air flow. The temperature should be between 28 and 30°C. The humidity should be maintained between 75 and 100. In captivity, these animals can be fed with crickets, wax moth, fruits flies, mealworms and houseflies. REFERENCES:
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