Robert Mertens's day gecko

Robert Mertens's day gecko
A juvenile Phelsuma robertmertensi
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Gekkota
Family:	Gekkonidae
Genus:	Phelsuma
Species:	P. robertmertensi
Binomial name
Phelsuma robertmertensi Meier, 1980

Robert Mertens's day gecko (Phelsuma robertmertensi) is diurnal species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to the Comoros.

Etymology

The specific name, robertmertensi, is in honour of German herpetologist Robert Mertens. ^{[2] [3]}

Description

One of the smallest species of its genus, Phelsuma robertmertensi can reach a total length (tail included) of about 11 centimetres (4.3 in). ^[3] The body colour can be dark green or bluish green. An orange mid dorsal stripe extends from the head to the tail. The sides of the neck as well as the flanks are greyish brown.^{[ citation needed ]}

Geographic range

Phelsuma robertmertensi inhabits only a small area on the island of Mayotte in the Comoro Islands. ^[3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Phelsuma robertmertensi is forest, ^[1] but it is also often found on banana trees and in abandoned vanilla orchid plantations.^{[ citation needed ]}

Diet

Phelsuma robertmertensi feeds on various insects and other invertebrates. It also licks soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.^{[ citation needed ]}

Reproduction

Phelsuma robertmertensi is oviparous. ^[3] At a temperature of 28 °C (82 °F), the young will hatch after approximately 49–53 days. The juveniles measure 19–22 millimetres (0.75–0.87 in).^{[ citation needed ]}

Care and maintenance in captivity

Phelsuma robertmertensi should be housed in pairs and needs a well planted terrarium. The temperature should be 25–28 °C (77–82 °F). The humidity should be 75–100%. In captivity, it can be fed crickets, wax moth larvae, fruit flies, mealworms and houseflies.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. Hawlitschek O.; Augros, S.; Webster, K.C. (2021). "Phelsuma robertmertensi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T199763A192646861. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Phelsuma robertmertensi, p. 176).
3. Species Phelsuma robertmertensi at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading

• Glaw, F.; Rösler, H. (2015). "Taxonomic checklist of the day geckos of the genera Phelsuma Gray, 1825 and Rhoptropella Hewitt, 1937 (Squamata: Gekkonidae)". Vertebrate Zoology. 65 (2): 247–283.
• Henkel F-W, Schmidt W (1995). Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Stuttgart: Ulmer. ISBN   3-8001-7323-9. (in German).
• McKeown S (1993). The general care and maintenance of day geckos. Lakeside, California: Advanced Vivarium Systems. 143 pp. ISBN   978-1882770229.
• Meier H (1980). "Zur Taxonomie und Ökologie der Gattung Phelsuma (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae) auf den Komoren, mit Beschreibung einer neuen Art ". Bonner Zoologische Beiträge31 (3/4): 323–332. (Phelsuma robertmertensi, new species, pp. 327–330, Figure 1). (in German).