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Range: Limited range within southwest Madagascar
that is undergoing severe habitat degradation due to charcoal
burning
Habitat: Dry thorny forests. Natural vegetation
consists of thorny succulent plants and baobob trees.
Listing: ranked as Vulnerable by IUCN and Appendix
1 by CITES.
Data is deficient regarding wild populations though populations
are believed to be depressed due to overcollecting for the pet
trade in the early to mid 1990s.
Diet: small insects, fruit, nectar and possibly
other lizards. At the zoo they eat crickets and pureed mango to
which a vitamin/mineral mixture is added
Behavior: Arboreal species and have “sticky
pads” on their toes which enable them to climb almost any
surface, including glass. As the name suggests, they are diurnal.
Reproduction: Usually breed for 6 months of
the year and can lay one clutch of 1-2 eggs about every 4-5 weeks.
The eggs are glued together but not affixed to the laying surface
or substrate. Typically eggs hatch between 45-60 days after being
laid, depending on temperature and humidity.
The female will keep an eye on her eggs and will take care of
the 3 inch long babies when they hatch. The babies can do just
fine on their own as well. The mother will ward off the father
at feeding time giving the babies a chance to eat first.
Social Life: An adult pair or trio of one male
and 2 females will cohabitate peacefully. This species is more
amicable towards each other than many related species although
they do not tolerate animals outside of their immediate family
group. More than one male will result in territorial fighting
Other Interesting Tidbits: One of the largest species of gecko
in Madagascar and can reach lengths up to 12”.
In the wild, Day geckos rely on the sun to produce vitamin D3.
Ultraviolet lighting is provided to simulate the sun.
When cool they take on darker colors to help absorb light and
heat. Likewise, they will turn pale in response to hot conditions
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