Phelsuma madagascariensis explained

Phelsuma madagascariensis is a species of day gecko that lives in Madagascar. It is among the most widespread day geckos and is found in a wide range of habitats.^[1] With a length of up to 30.5cm (12inches), it is also the largest day gecko in Madagascar.^[1] (The highly restricted Round Island day gecko is the only other extant species with a similar maximum length; the extinct Rodrigues giant day gecko was even larger.)

Subspecies

There are several subspecies:

• Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis (Madagascar day gecko)
• Phelsuma madagascariensis kochi (Koch's giant day gecko)
• Phelsuma madagascariensis boehmei (Boehme's giant day gecko)

Phelsuma grandis, the Madagascar giant day gecko, was previously considered a subspecies of Phelsuma madagascariensis but has now been elevated to a full species.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (2007). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. 3rd edition.
2. Raxworthy, C.J.; C.M. Ingram; N. Rabibisoa and R.G. Pearson (2007) Applications of Ecological Niche Modeling for Species Delimitation: A Review and Empirical Evaluation Using Day Geckos (Phelsuma) from Madagascar. Systematic Biology 56(6):907-923