Flat-tailed day gecko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flat-tailed day gecko |
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| Conservation status | |
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Phelsuma
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| Species: |
serraticauda
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The flat-tailed day gecko (Phelsuma serraticauda) is a special kind of gecko that lives in eastern Madagascar. These geckos are active during the day, which is why they are called "day geckos." Sadly, they are an endangered species. This means their numbers are getting very low. One big reason for this is that people illegally collect them to sell as pets around the world. These geckos usually live in rainforests and spend their time on trees. They enjoy eating insects and sweet nectar.
Contents
About the Flat-Tailed Day Gecko
What They Look Like
These amazing lizards can grow to be about 13 centimeters (about 5 inches) long. Some males can even reach 15 centimeters! Female geckos are usually a little smaller than the males. Their bodies are often a dark green or yellowish-green color.
One of the most interesting things about them is their wide, flat tail. It has edges that look like tiny saw teeth, which is how they got their name "serraticauda" (meaning "saw tail"). On their lower back, they have three red, tear-shaped spots. Their neck might be a bit bluish and has two yellow stripes running along it. On their snout and head, you can see three red stripes going across.
Where They Live
The flat-tailed day gecko is found only on the east coast of Madagascar. They are mostly known from an area about 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles) north of a city called Toamasina. This shows they live in a very specific and small part of the world.
Their Home Environment
These geckos mostly live on coconut palms. But you can also find them on banana trees. They like these tall trees because they offer good places to hide and find food.
What They Eat
Flat-tailed day geckos eat different kinds of insects and other small creatures without backbones, like spiders. They also love to lick soft, sweet fruits, pollen, and nectar from flowers. This gives them energy and helps them stay healthy.
How They Behave
These geckos often live in groups. Usually, one male lives with up to five females. The females in the group have a clear pecking order, meaning some are more dominant than others. Young geckos are allowed to stay with the group until they grow to a certain size.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female flat-tailed day geckos can lay up to four pairs of eggs each year. That's a lot of eggs! If the eggs are kept at a temperature of about 28 °C (82 °F), the baby geckos will hatch after about 53 to 58 days. When they first hatch, the tiny geckos are usually about 40 millimeters (about 1.5 inches) long.
Conservation and Captivity
Why They Are Endangered
The flat-tailed day gecko is an endangered species. This is mainly because people illegally collect them from their natural homes. They are then sold in the international pet trade. This takes too many geckos out of the wild, making it hard for their populations to grow.
Keeping Them as Pets
If someone wants to keep these geckos as pets, they need a special home called a terrarium. It should be large and have lots of plants. They can be kept in pairs or small groups. The temperature in their terrarium should be between 25 and 28 °C (77-82 °F). It's also important to keep the air humid, between 75% and 90%. In captivity, these geckos can eat crickets, wax moth larvae, fruit flies, mealworms, and houseflies.
