Banded day gecko (Phelsuma standingi)

Description

Banded day gecko fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Banded day gecko description

The banded day gecko (Phelsuma standingi) is one of the largest day gecko species in Madagascar. The adult is a mottled pale blue or blue-green colour, which is often similar to the bark colouration of the trees it inhabits ⁽⁵⁾. The underparts of the body are usually beige ⁽³⁾. The juvenile banded day gecko has prominent russet bands across the length of the body which fade with age, while the hatchling is blue-grey in colour ⁽²⁾.

The banded day gecko makes various noises including clicks, squeaks, and croaks ⁽³⁾.

Also known as

Standing's day gecko.

French

Gecko Diurne De Standing, Phelsume De Standing.

Spanish

Geco Diurno De Standing.

Size

Length: up to 30.5 cm ⁽²⁾

Weight

40 - 80 g ⁽³⁾

Banded day gecko biology

The banded day gecko is rarely seen in the wild and little is known of its feeding habits in its natural environment. However, other species of day gecko are known to be omnivorous, feeding on invertebrates, nectar, pollen and fruits ⁽⁶⁾. The banded day gecko may feed on baobab nectar or invertebrates attracted to the nectar, but there are as yet no field observations to support this ⁽⁵⁾. In captivity the banded day gecko is known to feed on other geckos as well as a range of invertebrates and nectar ^{(7) (8)}.

Day geckos are unusual among the gecko family because they have a diurnal lifestyle, which gives them their name ⁽⁵⁾. The banded day gecko has tiny hair-like structures on the bottom of its toes, called ‘setae,’ which aid in climbing on various surfaces. Predators of the banded day gecko include birds of prey and snakes ⁽³⁾.

The breeding season of the banded day gecko usually runs from November through till March. The female will lay one to two eggs every four to six weeks, but neither the male nor female will provide any parental care to the young ⁽³⁾. The eggs hatch after about 70 days, and the young geckos reach sexual maturity at 1 to 2 years old. In the wild, the banded day gecko may live for up to 5 years ⁽³⁾, while in captivity it may live for over 12 years ⁽²⁾.

Banded day gecko range

The banded day gecko is found only in a small arid region of southwest Madagascar, occurring in an area of approximately 17,000 square kilometres ⁽¹⁾. It was previously known from only five locations in the Toliara region, but another population has recently been discovered during forests surveys ⁽⁵⁾.

Banded day gecko habitat

An arboreal species, the banded day gecko lives only in arid environments including deciduous dry forests and dense, scrub-like vegetation known as thorn forest ⁽⁵⁾.

Little is known about the exact habitat requirements of the banded day gecko, but it is known to have a close relationship with baobab trees (Adansonia spp.). It is also found on other tree species and even on wooden buildings, but appears to be primarily adapted to living in baobab trees, making it the only known reptile in Madagascar to associate with these trees ⁽⁵⁾.

Banded day gecko status

The banded day gecko is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾ and listed on Appendix II of CITES ⁽⁴⁾.

Banded day gecko threats

The banded day gecko is thought to be experiencing substantial habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation due to the conversion of land for agricultural uses ⁽¹⁾. These include logging, charcoal production, cattle grazing and slash-and-burn farming, which can also lead to destructive brush fires ⁽⁹⁾.

The banded day gecko is also illegally harvested for the international pet trade, despite being under protection from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) ^{(1) (10)}. It is thought that capture for the pet trade has been intense in recent years, leading to substantial declines in this species’ numbers ^{(1) (5)}.

Banded day gecko conservation

The banded day gecko is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), meaning international trade in this species should be carefully controlled. However, a substantial illegal trade still occurs for the pet industry ^{(1) (4)}.

A lack of study, and particularly a lack of data on population trends, hampers possible conservation efforts for this species. However, there are populations already occupying one established protected area, the Zombitse National Park. There are also plans to establish new protected areas in the region where the banded day gecko occurs, in the lower Onilahy River and Ranobe and Mikea forests ⁽⁵⁾.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

Find out more about conservation in Madagascar:

• Madagascar Wildlife Conservation:
  http://www.mwc-info.net/
• Wildlife Conservation Society:
  http://www.wcs.org/where-we-work/africa/madagascar.aspx
• Conservation International Biodiversity Hotspots - Madagascar:
  http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/madagascar

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

Glossary

Arboreal

An animal which lives or spends a large amount of time in trees.

Deciduous

A plant that sheds its leaves at the end of the growing season.

Diurnal

Active during the day.

Invertebrates

Animals with no backbone, such as insects, crustaceans, worms, molluscs, spiders, cnidarians (jellyfish, corals, sea anemones) and echinoderms.

Omnivorous

Feeding on both plants and animals.

Slash-and-burn

The cutting and burning of forests or woodland to create space for agriculture or livestock.

References

1. IUCN Red List (September, 2011)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. Bartlett, R.D. and Bartlett, P.P. (2006) Geckos. Barron’s Educational Series, New York.
3. Sacramento Zoo - Standing’s day gecko (January, 2012)
   http://www.saczoo.org/Document.Doc?id=359
4. CITES (September, 2010)
   http://www.cites.org/
5. Cornu, C. and Raxworthy, C.J. (2010) Discovery of a novel association between baobab trees (Adansonia) and the poorly known Standing’s day gecko Phesulma standingi in Madagascar. The Herpetological Journal, 20(4): 281-284.
6. Bartlett, R.D. and Bartlett, P. (2001) Day Geckos. Barron’s Educational Series, New York.
7. Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (2007) A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Vences and Glaw, Köln.
8. Phelsumaweb – The captive care and breeding of Phelsuma standingi (Standing’s day gecko) (October, 2011)
   http://www.phelsumaweb.nl/eng/standingi_care.html
9. Seddon, N., Tobias, J., Yout, J.W., Ramanapamonjy, J.R., Butchart, S. and Randrianizahana, H. (2000) Conservation issues and priorities in the Mikea Forest of south-west Madagascar. Oryx, 34(4): 287-304.
10. Endangered Species Handbook (October, 2011)
    http://www.endangeredspecieshandbook.org/chapters.php