Yellow-headed day gecko

Scientific name: Phelsuma klemmeri

Country: Madagascar

Continent: Africa

Diet: Insects and other invertebrates, fruit, pollen and nectar.

Food and feeding: Omnivore

Habitats: Tropical rainforest

Conservation status: Unknown

Relatives: Leopard gecko, Standing’s day gecko, rhinoceros iguana

Description: They can reach a total length of about 9.5 cm. They are slender and long-snouted with a turquoise blue upper and mid-back and a turqouise tail. The lower back is light brown. Distinguishing characteristics are the yellow head and flattened body shape.

Lifestyle: Yellow-headed day geckos usually live in small groups in bamboo forets. They can often be seen basking in the sunshine but will immediately return to their hiding place if disturbed. They usually retreat to a small crack in the older or dead bamboo, which they can access with their flattened bodies. They are active in the early mornings, in late afternoons, avoiding the hotter parts of the day. 

Keeping in touch: Geckos can make a range of squeaks, clicks and croaks, which sound more like a frog than a lizard.

Growing up: The females lay a pair of eggs and hide them in bamboo canes. At a temperature of 27°C, the young will hatch after approximately 39-52 days, juveniles measure just 2 cm in length.