# Day Gecko (*Cnemaspis scalpensis*)

The Day Gecko is a bright green lizard that loves sunshine! It has beautiful colors and loves to bask in the warm sun.

- **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Tropical forests
- **Also known as:** Green Gecko, Phelsuma

![Day Gecko](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424453/objects/5708.jpg)

## Appearance

The Day Gecko is a tiny reptile, typically brown or grey, with a slender body and a long tail. It has keeled (ridged) scales and small spines, giving it a rough, camouflaged texture. Unlike many geckos, its feet lack sticky pads, meaning it relies on its claws for climbing.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Squamata
- **Order:** Lacertilia
- **Family:** Gekkonidae
- **Genus:** Cnemaspis

## Interesting facts

- Instead of blinking, they lick their eyes clean with their long tongues!
- They don't have sticky toe pads but use sharp claws to climb rough surfaces!
- This tiny gecko can be as short as your finger, making it one of the smallest!
- Unlike many geckos, they are active during the day, hunting in sunlit spots!

## Special abilities

- **Rock Cloak:** Day Gecko can blend perfectly with rocks and tree bark because of its mottled, spiny skin that helps them hide from predators.
- **Claw Grip:** Day Gecko can grip rough surfaces like rocks and tree trunks using its sharp claws, which helps them climb and find food.
- **Tail Escape:** Day Gecko can drop its tail if caught by a predator, because it can regrow a new one, which helps them escape danger.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 7-10 cm
- **Weight:** 0.002-0.005 kg
- **Lifespan:** 3-5 years
- **Speed:** 1.5 km/h
- **Clutch Size:** 2
- **Incubation:** 45-60 days

## Diet & Feeding

This tiny hunter eats small insects and other arthropods it finds among rocks.

- **Primary Foods:** ants, small beetles, spiders, tiny crickets
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Ornate Flying Snake (*Chrysopelea ornata*) — often hunts geckos in their habitat
- **Eaten by:** Rufous Treepie (*Dendrocitta vagabunda*) — a bird known to prey on small reptiles
- **Hunts:** Weaver Ant (*Oecophylla smaragdina*) — forages for these ants among vegetation
- **Hunts:** Harlequin Ladybird (*Harmonia axyridis*) — consumes small beetles as part of its diet

## Traits

- [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
- [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.
- [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.
- [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment.
- [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

- [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles)
- [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify 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 Day Gecko?

7-10 cm

### How much does Day Gecko weigh?

0.002-0.005 kg

### How long does Day Gecko live?

3-5 years

### How fast can Day Gecko move?

1.5 km/h

### What does Day Gecko eat?

This tiny hunter eats small insects and other arthropods it finds among rocks.

### Where is Day Gecko usually found?

Tropical forests

### How does 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*)

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Source: [Day Gecko: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/day-gecko)