About Phelsuma guttata Kaudern, 1922
Phelsuma guttata Kaudern, 1922 is a medium-sized day gecko. It reaches a total length of approximately 13 cm. This species has a slender body and a long snout, with a dark green base body color. It has several small orange spots on the middle and lower portions of its back, and a black eye stripe that runs from the nostril to above the ear opening. A defining trait of this species is the presence of multiple v-shaped stripes on the throat. Its flanks, legs, and toes have white speckles. Some populations have blue spots on the neck region, and the underside of the body is grayish white. This species is distributed in coastal northeastern Madagascar, and can also be found on several nearby islets. Its typical habitat is rainforest, where it lives on trees and avoids bright sunlight. As much original primary rainforest has been cleared, the species is also now found on bushes and introduced banana trees. Female Phelsuma guttata lay clutches of two eggs, which they hide on the ground under foliage or wood, or lay on trees under loose bark. When incubated at a temperature of 28 °C, young geckos hatch after approximately 40 to 45 days. Hatchlings measure 45 mm.
