| Gecko, day | |||
| Genus | Phelsuma | ||
| Species | edwardnewtoni | ||
| Status | Endangered | ||
| Distribution | Indian Ocean - Mauritius | ||
| Appearance | Geckos look like small lizards. | ||
| Behavior |
Geckos are mainly nocturnal or crepuscular (active at twilight and before sunrise) creatures. They take advantage of the lack of competition from other lizards during the hours when a large number of insects and spiders are available as prey.
Most geckos do not have eyelids; their eyes are covered by a transparent scale known as a spectacle. This spectacle is cleaned periodically by licking. The gecko's climbing ability is exceptional - some are able to scale smooth surfaces like glass. This ability is heavily dependent upon claws and scansors (adhesive pads on the toes). | ||
| Diet | Insects | ||
| Communication | Courtship involves tail flicks by the male. | ||
| Breeding | The male uses visual and chemical signals to locate females. Females will lay two leathery-shelled eggs. | ||
| No. of Young | 2 eggs | ||
| Interesting Facts | For some geckos, turtles, and crocodilians, the gender of an individual is determined by the temperature experienced by the embryo in its egg. | ||
| Animal Communication Panel | |||
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