Parker's day gecko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phelsuma parkeri |
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Phelsuma
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parkeri
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The Parker's day gecko, also known as the Pemba Island day gecko, is a type of lizard that is active during the day. It belongs to the gecko family. This special gecko only lives on Pemba Island in Tanzania. You can often find it living in banana trees or even near people's homes. It likes to eat insects and sweet nectar from flowers.
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What's in a Name?
The name parkeri and "Parker's day gecko" were given to this lizard to honor a person. They are named after Hampton Wildman Parker, an English scientist who studied reptiles and amphibians. He was a herpetologist.
What Does It Look Like?
Parker's day gecko is a thin, medium-sized gecko. It can grow to be about 16 centimeters (6.3 inches) long, including its tail. Its body is a bright green color. It has a light red stripe that goes from its nose to its eye. You might also see tiny black spots and speckles on its back and legs. This gecko has bright yellow rings around its eyes. Its belly is white.
Where Does It Live?
The Pemba Island day gecko is found only on Pemba Island. This island is about 1,340 square kilometers (517 square miles) in size. It has a few smaller islands around its coast. Pemba Island is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the mainland of Tanzania.
Its Home and Habitat
Phelsuma parkeri often lives on large trees. These include banana trees and palm trees. This gecko also likes to live near or on human homes and buildings.
What Does It Eat?
Parker's day gecko eats different kinds of insects. It also eats other small creatures without backbones, called invertebrates. Besides that, it enjoys licking soft, sweet fruit, pollen, and nectar from flowers.
How Does It Behave?
The Pemba Island day gecko is quite shy. It tends to stay shy even when it is kept by people.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female Parker's day geckos often lay their eggs together in one spot. This means many eggs can be found in the same place. When the baby geckos hatch, they are very tiny. They measure about 28 millimeters (1.1 inches) long.
Caring for Parker's Day Geckos
If you keep Parker's day geckos, they should be housed in pairs. They need a large home called a terrarium with many plants. The temperature in their home should be around 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day. The air should be quite humid, about 65–75% during the day. It should be a bit more humid at night. In captivity, these geckos can eat crickets, wax moth larvae, fruit flies, mealworms, and houseflies.
