Gold dust day gecko

{{Short description|Species of lizard}} {{More footnotes needed|date= March 2021}} {{speciesbox | name = Gold dust day gecko | image = Gold dust day gecko (Phelsuma laticauda) Nosy Komba.jpg | image_caption = Island of Nosy Komba, Madagascar | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{Cite journal | author = Gerlach, J. | author2 = Ineich, I. | author3 = Vences, M. | author3-link = Miguel Vences | name-list-style = amp | title = ''Phelsuma laticauda'' | journal = The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | volume = 2011 | page = e.T61433A12483895 | publisher = IUCN | date = 2011 | url = http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/61433/0 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T61433A12483895.en | access-date = 26 December 2017| doi-access = free }}</ref> | genus = Phelsuma | species = laticauda | authority = (Boettger, 1880) | range_map = Phelsuma laticauda distribution.png | synonyms = ''Pachydactylus laticauda'' <small>Boettger, 1880</small> }}

The '''gold dust day gecko''' ('''''Phelsuma laticauda''''') is a diurnal species of gecko. It lives in northern Madagascar, the Comoro Islands, and the Mascarene Islands; it has also been introduced to Hawaii and other Pacific islands.<ref name=IUCN /> It is primarily an arboreal species which can be found in tropical forests and may also associate with human dwellings. The gold dust day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.

One subspecies is recognized (in addition to the nominate one): ''Phelsuma laticauda angularis''.<ref name=RDB>{{NRDB species|genus=Phelsuma|species=laticauda|accessdate=6 June 2013}}</ref>

==Description== This lizard can reach a total length of 3.9–5.1″ (10–13cm). The body colour is a bright green or yellowish green or rarely blue. Typical for this day gecko are the red speckles on the neck and the upper back. There are three rust-coloured transverse bars on the snout and head; the upper part of the skin around the eye is blue. On the lower back there are three tapering red bars. The tail is slightly flattened. The under side is off-white. Juveniles lack the red colourations and the tail and limbs appear off-white.

==Diet== [[File:Gold dust day gecko at flower-edit1.jpg|''Phelsuma laticauda laticauda'' licking nectar from the 'bird of paradise' flower of ''Strelitzia''|thumb|upright|left]] [[File:Gold Dust Day Gecko closeup hawaii edit 1.jpg|thumb|left|Close-up of gold dust day gecko on the island of Hawaii]] These day geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates, and are capable of eating other smaller lizards. They also eat soft, sweet fruit and pollen and nectar from flowers, often congregating in groups of many individuals to feed off of one plant.

==Behavior== [[File:Combat-de-phelsumes-sur-un-bananier.JPG|thumb|upright|Gold dust day geckos fighting on a banana plant in central Saint-Denis, Réunion]] The males of this species are rather aggressive. They do not accept other males in their territory. In captivity, where the females cannot escape, the males may also seriously wound a female.

==Reproduction== The females lay 1–2 eggs. At a temperature of 28 °C, the young will hatch after approximately 40–45 days. The juveniles measure 55–60 mm. They should be kept separately since the juveniles can be quite quarrelsome. Sexual maturity is reached after 10–12 months.

==Captivity== This gecko is occasionally kept as a pet; with good care, this species may live up to 15 years.

==References== {{Reflist}} *{{cite book |title=Day Geckos In Captivity |last=Christenson |first=Leann and Greg |year=2003 |publisher=Living Art Publishing |location=Ada, Oklahoma |isbn=0-9638130-2-1 |pages=194 }} *{{cite book |title=Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren |last=Henkel |first=F.-W. |author2=Schmidt, W. |year=1995 |publisher=Ulmer |location=Stuttgart |isbn=3-8001-7323-9 }} *{{cite book |title=The general care and maintenance of day geckos |last=McKeown |first=Sean |author-link=Sean McKeown |year=1993 |publisher=Advanced Vivarium Systems |location=Lakeside, CA }} {{Commons category|Phelsuma laticauda}}

Category:Phelsuma Category:Reptiles of the Comoros Category:Reptiles of Madagascar Category:Taxa named by Oskar Boettger Category:Reptiles described in 1880