Phelsuma pusilla hallmanni

Phelsuma pusilla hallmanni
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Gekkonidae
Genus:	Phelsuma
Species:	P. pusilla
Subspecies:	P. p. hallmanni
Trinomial name
	Phelsuma pusilla hallmanni; Meier, 1989

Phelsuma pusilla hallmanni is a diurnal subspecies of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The subspecies is endemic to eastern Madagascar and typically inhabits different trees. This day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.

Etymology[edit]

The subspecific name, hallmanni, is in honor of German herpetologist Gerhard Hallmann.^[1]

Description[edit]

Ph. p. hallmanni belongs to the smallest day geckos. It can reach a total length (including tail) of about 10 cm (3.9 in).^[2]

The body colour is dark green. On the back there are red dots present. On the snout, a blue triangle is present, which is bordered from behind by a red bar. On the neck and back of the head bluish speckles are present. The tail is turquoise. The flanks are brown or black. The ventral side is white.^{[citation needed]}

Geographic range[edit]

The subspecies Ph. p. hallmanni inhabits the east coast of Madagascar. It is only known from the region around Andasibe.^[2]

Habitat[edit]

Ph. p. hallmanni lives in a moist and warm climate. It inhabits different trees and can often be found on trees on the edge of forest along the road.^{[citation needed]}

Diet[edit]

Ph. p. hallmanni feeds on various insects and other invertebrates. It also likes to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.^{[citation needed]}

Behaviour[edit]

Ph. p. hallmanni is quite quarrelsome and does not accept other males. In captivity, where the female cannot escape, the male can also sometimes seriously wound a female. In this case the male and female must be separated.^{[citation needed]}

Reproduction[edit]

Ph. p. hallmanni is oviparous.^[2] The pairing season is between October and the first weeks of May.^{[citation needed]}

Care and maintenance in captivity[edit]

Ph. p. hallmanni should be housed in pairs and needs a well planted terrarium. The temperature should be about 28 °C (82 °F), locally around 30 °C (86 °F), during the day, and drop to around 20 °C (68 °F) at night. The humidity should be maintained between 75 and 80% during the day. It is also important to include two colder months with a daytime temperature of 24 °C (75 °F) and 16 °C (61 °F) at night. In captivity, it can be fed crickets, wax moth larvae, fruit flies, mealworms and houseflies.^{[citation needed]}

References[edit]

^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Phelsuma pusilla hallmanni, p. 114).
^ ^a ^b ^c Species Phelsuma pusilla at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.