The Madagascar Giant Day Gecko is a species of arboreal lizard that is native to the tropical and subtropical forest of Northern Madagascar.
They are a large species of gecko with a vibrant green coloration. They can grow to almost a foot in length.
Madagascar Giant Day Gecko Taxonomy
The Madagascar Giant Day Gecko belongs to the Gekkonidae family of lizards under the Infraorder Gekkota. This essentially means that they are a Gecko.
The Gekkonidae family is the largest family of Gecko consisting of almost 1000 different species. These lizards are referred to as the ‘True Geckos’.
Some of the other species in this family include the Tokay Gecko and the Gold Dust Day Gecko.
There are currently 64 recognised genera in the Gekkonidae family with the Madagascar Giant Day Gecko belonging to the Phelsuma genus.
This is a large genus of geckos containing over 50 different species. All species in the Phelsuma genus are known as Day Geckos.
The scientific name for this species is Phelsuma grandis. It was first described by Gray in 1870.
There are currently no recognised sub-species of this lizard.
Madagascar Giant Day Gecko Description
As its name suggests, the Madagascar Giant Day Gecko is a ‘Giant’ species of gecko that can reach around 25cm in total length.
Females of this species are typically smaller than males but still reach a very large size compared to other types of geckos.
They have a vibrant green coloration which is one of their standout features. Some specimens even have tints of blues appearing through the green scales.
They have a characteristic red streak that extends from either side of the nostril to the lizard’s eye. There is typically an additional red dot between these lines.
Most specimens have additional red dots or lines on their back. These can vary in intensity and are even completely absent in some specimens.
You will often see a bulge in the throat area of adults. These bulges are a result of stored calcium in sacs in their throat.
The belly of the Madagascar Giant Day Gecko is usually an off-white color but can appear more yellowish.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Madagascar Giant Day Gecko has a very small geographical distribution. Their range is limited to a small region of Northern Madagascar.
However, while their range is limited, there is a large healthy population of these lizards within this range.
They can be found from the Northern tip of Madagascar down along the Eastern Coast as far as the areas around Toamasina.
This lizard was also introduced to some of the smaller islands around Madagascar such as Mauritius and Reunion Island.
They quickly developed healthy populations on these islands and are now considered an invasive species there.
These geckos have also been introduced to other parts of the world such as Florida and Hawaii where populations are quickly establishing.
Madagascar Giant Day Gecko Behaviour
The Madagascar Giant Day Gecko is a diurnal species meaning that these lizards are active during the day.
They are an arboreal species that is well adapted to life in the trees. They have large padded toes which help them grip to surfaces, allowing them to climb completely vertical surfaces.
Males are very territorial and will not allow another male to enter its territory. They will defend this very aggressively and fighting among males is common.
These lizards are insectivores and will feed on a wide variety of different insects in the wild. There are even reports of these lizards eating small vertebrate prey.