# Banded Day Gecko (*Phelsuma standingi*) The Banded Day Gecko is a colorful little lizard that loves to bask in the sun. With its bright green body and beautiful stripes, it can often be seen climbing trees and walls during the day. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Banded Day Gecko](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gekkonidae_-_Phelsuma_standingi.JPG&width=800) Photo: Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gekkonidae_-_Phelsuma_standingi.JPG) ## Appearance The Banded Day Gecko has a vibrant lime-green body, often marked with dark brown or black crossbands across its back. Its head features intricate patterns of dark lines, and it possesses large, striking orange-rimmed eyes, making it visually distinct from many other day geckos. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Gekkonidae - **Genus:** Phelsuma ## Interesting facts - Banded Day Geckos are only found in one special place: the dry forests of Madagascar! - Even though they're small, Banded Day Geckos can make surprisingly loud chirping sounds! - Mommy geckos glue their tiny eggs to leaves or branches, keeping them safe until they hatch! - Wow! These geckos sometimes drink sweet nectar, helping plants by carrying pollen like a tiny bird! ## Special abilities - **Sticky Toes:** Banded Day Geckos can cling to almost any surface because of specialized toe pads, helping them climb trees and walls. - **Tail Escape:** Banded Day Geckos can drop their tail when caught by a predator, allowing them to escape danger and grow a new one. - **Sunlight Eyes:** Banded Day Geckos have keen daytime vision that helps them spot tiny insects and ripe fruits from afar. - **Color Code:** Banded Day Geckos have bright green scales that help them blend seamlessly with tropical foliage. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 18-28 cm - **Weight:** 0.02-0.08 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 60-90 days ## Diet & Feeding These geckos love to snack on small bugs and sweet fruit, like a tiny forest gardener! - **Primary Foods:** crickets, flies, spiders, nectar, ripe fruit - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Madagascar Kestrel (*Falco newtoni*) — Caught by swift birds of prey. - **Eaten by:** Madagascar Hognose Snake (*Leioheterodon madagascariensis*) — Hidden snakes snatch them. - **Hunts:** [Field Cricket](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-cricket) (*Gryllus bimaculatus*) — A quick snack for the gecko. - **Depends on:** Perrier's Ebony (*Diospyros perrieri*) — Visits flowers for nectar. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch geckos from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Banded Day Gecko? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Banded Day Gecko? 18-28 cm ### How much does Banded Day Gecko weigh? 0.02-0.08 kg ### How long does Banded Day Gecko live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Banded Day Gecko move? 8 km/h ### What does Banded Day Gecko eat? These geckos love to snack on small bugs and sweet fruit, like a tiny forest gardener! ### Where is Banded Day Gecko usually found? Forests ### How does Banded Day Gecko hunt? Foraging ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Banded Day Gecko: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/banded-day-gecko)