THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

212 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
Can produce four clutches per year. Young
hatch 4–9 months later, depending on climatic
conditions. Growth is rapid. Sexual maturity
at 6–9 months.
Conservation Status: CITES Appendix II . In
1998, 34,000 wild-taken of this species were
exported from Madagascar for the pet trade.
CITES established an export quota of 2000 in 1999.
Sakalava Velvet Gecko
Blaesodactylus sakalava (Gekkonidae)
Geckos
Distribution: Southwest Madagascar.
Habitat: Found in semi-humid forest areas
under bark, in crevices of rock or on trees.
Appearance: Bodies broad with wide
transverse bands across the back. Color ranges
from brownish to gray, and changes depending
on mood. Eyes are orange/brown or steel gray.
The skin is velvet to the touch.
Diet: In captivity eats all kinds on insects and
their larvae, as well as fruits.
Reproduction and Development: After mating
a female will lay 6 to 12 eggs per season. It takes
45 to 50 days for the eggs to hatch.
Mortality/Longevity: Can live 10 to 25 years
in captivity.
Remarks: One of three species of the genus
Blaesodactylus, all found in Madagascar.
Formerly classified in the genus Homopholis.
Sakalava velvet geckos have not been studied in
detail in the wild, and they are not commonly
held in captivity, so there is still a lot to learn
about them.
Electric Blue Day Gecko
Lygodactylus williamsi (Gekkonidae)
Geckos
Distribution: Found only in the Kimboza
Forest in eastern Tanzania.
Habitat: Tropical forest.
Appearance: A dwarf gecko. Male: bright blue
with black throat. Female greenish, little or no
black on throat. Max. length: 10 cm; usually
closer to 6 cm.
Diet: Insects, nectar. Unlike most geckos, is
active during the day.
Mortality/Longevity: Life history not well
known; perhaps up to 10 years.
Conservations Status: IUCN: not evaluated,
but deforestation within their limited range
threatens survival in the wild for this species.
They breed well in captivity, which presents
hope for their future.
Remarks: Geckos, like lizards, have fracture
planes in the tail so it breaks off easily, a handy
adaptation to escape predators, but with a
downside: the tail stores fat, which can be a
lifesaver in hard times.
Madagascar Giant Day Gecko
Phelsuma grandis (Gekkonidae)
Geckos
Distribution: Found in northern Madagascar,
Seychelles, and smaller islands close to
Madagascar.
Habitat: Canopy of tropical rain forests.
Appearance: Largest species of the genus
Phelsuma, 23–27 cm. They are bright green, with
granular red spots on the body and a red line
running from the eye to the tip of the nose. The
eyes, surrounded by blue rings, have round
pupils, indicative of a diurnal life style.
Diet: Mostly insects and other invertebrates;
also soft sweet fruit, nectar, and pollen.
Reproduction and Development: Breeding
season is between November and the first weeks
of May. During this period, the females lay up to
6 pairs of eggs. Young hatch after approximately
60–65 days. Juveniles measure about 7 cm and
reach sexual maturity after one year.
Mortality/Longevity: Life span: up to 10 years
in captivity.
Conservation Status: Listed in Appendix II
of CITES.
Remarks: Many geckos can make sounds to
attract mates, to advertise their territories, to
warn off unwanted intruders or to frighten
predators. Herpetologist Ulrich Gruber
described the sound produced by the
Madagascar day gecko as resembling ”the
croaking of a tormented frog.”
Like many species of geckos, the giant day
gecko does not have eyelids. Instead the lids
have fused, and the eye is covered with a large
transparent scale. Geckos keep their eyes clean
by licking them with their broad flat tongues.
The eye color of many diurnal species is
much like the skin color. Their eyes blend
into their heads, which in turn blend into the
surrounding foliage of the geckos’ habitat.