Rodrigues giant day gecko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rodrigues giant day gecko |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Phelsuma
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| Species: |
gigas
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The Rodrigues giant day gecko (Phelsuma gigas) was a very large type of day gecko. It used to live on Rodrigues Island and nearby smaller islands. This gecko mostly lived in trees. It ate insects and sweet nectar. Unlike most other day geckos, it seemed to be active at night. Sadly, this amazing gecko is now extinct.
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What Did It Look Like?
The Rodrigues giant day gecko was one of the biggest geckos ever known. It could grow to be about 40 centimeters (16 inches) long. Its body was grayish or grayish brown. It had black spots that were not in any special pattern on its back. Its tail had some stripes and was dark gray. The gecko's tongue was pink, and its belly was light yellow.
The first geckos collected to describe this species have been lost. Today, only a few parts of their skeletons remain.
How Did It Behave?
An early explorer named Leguat wrote about this gecko. He described it as a "nocturnal lizard of grayish colour." He also said it was "as big and as long as one's arm." Leguat noted that its meat was "not bad" and that it loved to be on plantanes (which are latan palms). This tells us it was active at night and lived in trees.
Where Did It Live?
This special gecko lived on Rodrigues Island and the small islands around it. The last time a P. gigas was collected was in 1842. This happened on a small island called Ile aux Fregates, which is off the coast of Rodrigues.
What Was Its Habitat Like?
The Rodrigues giant day gecko was a lizard that lived in trees. It made its home in the forests of Rodrigues. This gecko became extinct because of human activities. People cut down many trees, which destroyed its forest home. Also, new animals like cats and rats were brought to the island. These animals hunted the geckos, which led to their disappearance.
What Did It Eat?
These day geckos ate different kinds of insects and other small creatures without backbones. Scientists believe that P. gigas also liked to lick soft, sweet fruit. They probably also ate pollen and nectar, just like other day geckos do.
