# Gold Dust Day Gecko (*Phelsuma laticauda*) The Gold Dust Day Gecko is a small, colorful lizard with bright green skin and golden spots. They love to climb and can often be seen basking in the sun on tree branches. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 60 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Gold Dust Day Gecko](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gold_Dust_Day_Gecko_closeup_hawaii_edit_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: KeysPhotography.com, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gold_Dust_Day_Gecko_closeup_hawaii_edit_1.jpg) ## Appearance The Gold Dust Day Gecko is a vibrant green lizard with a flattened body and bright blue eye-rings. It has small, golden-yellow speckles on its neck and upper back, giving it a distinctive 'gold dust' appearance. Its belly is white, and its tail often shows a hint of blue. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Gekkonidae - **Genus:** Phelsuma ## Interesting facts - Gold Dust Day Gecko eggs are sticky and often glued to leaves or bark for safety. - Sometimes, they make soft chirping sounds to talk to other geckos nearby. - These geckos don't have eyelids; they lick their own eyeballs to keep them clean! - They love to drink sweet nectar and fruit juice straight from flowers and trees. ## Special abilities - **Super Suction Soles:** Gold Dust Day Geckos have specialized toe pads with millions of tiny hairs that help them cling to smooth surfaces like glass. - **Detachable Decoy:** A Gold Dust Day Gecko can shed its tail when grabbed, which distracts predators while the gecko escapes to safety. - **Regenerative Power:** The Gold Dust Day Gecko can regrow its tail if it loses it, though the new tail might look slightly different. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-14 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-10 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 40-60 days ## Diet & Feeding They feast on small insects and spiders, but also enjoy sweet nectar and ripe fruits! - **Primary Foods:** small insects, spiders, flower nectar, ripe fruit - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Madagascar Buzzard (*Buteo brachypterus*) — A common bird of prey that hunts small lizards in trees. - **Eaten by:** Madagascar Ground Boa (*Leioheterodon madagascariensis*) — This native snake often preys on geckos and other small reptiles. - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Actively hunts and eats small flies and other flying insects. - **Depends on:** Chinese Hibiscus (*Hibiscus rosa-sinensis*) — Feeds on nectar and sweet juices from its colorful flowers. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different 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 touch them, as they can be shy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Gold Dust 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 Gold Dust Day Gecko? 10-14 cm ### How much does Gold Dust Day Gecko weigh? 0.005-0.015 kg ### How long does Gold Dust Day Gecko live? 6-10 years ### How fast can Gold Dust Day Gecko move? 8 km/h ### What does Gold Dust Day Gecko eat? They feast on small insects and spiders, but also enjoy sweet nectar and ripe fruits! ### Where is Gold Dust Day Gecko usually found? Forests ### How does Gold Dust Day Gecko hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Allerton Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/allerton-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/amy-b-h-greenwell-ethnobotanical-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hawaii-tropical-botanical-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Kahaluu Bay](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kahaluu-bay) — Hawaii, US · Historic District - [Kahanu Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kahanu-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Lyon Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lyon-arboretum) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Gold Dust Day Gecko](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/gold-dust-day-gecko) ## 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: [Gold Dust Day Gecko: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gold-dust-day-gecko)