# Madagascar Giant Day Gecko (*Phelsuma grandis*) The Madagascar Giant Day Gecko is a colorful lizard that loves to bask in the sun. They have bright green skin with beautiful spots, making them look like little jewels in the trees! - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Giant Day Gecko, Madagascar Gecko ![Madagascar Giant Day Gecko](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Madagascar_giant_day_gecko_%28Phelsuma_grandis%29_Nosy_Komba.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Madagascar_giant_day_gecko_%28Phelsuma_grandis%29_Nosy_Komba.jpg) ## Appearance The Madagascar Giant Day Gecko has a brilliant emerald green body, often adorned with striking red or reddish-brown spots on its back. It has bright blue eyes bordered by a black line, making it one of the most vividly colored reptiles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Gekkonidae - **Genus:** Phelsuma ## Interesting facts - Madagascar Giant Day Geckos communicate with unique chirps and clicks, especially when they feel threatened. - Their eggs are incredibly sticky and are often glued firmly to leaves or tree bark to keep them safe. - These geckos have no eyelids, so they lick their own eyeballs to keep them clean and moist! - They are the largest of all day geckos, capable of growing up to a foot long! ## Special abilities - **Super Grippy Toes:** Madagascar Giant Day Gecko can stick to almost any surface, even smooth glass, because of millions of tiny hair-like structures on their toe pads. - **Tail Escape Artistry:** Madagascar Giant Day Gecko can drop its tail when threatened, which then wiggles to distract predators, allowing the gecko to escape. - **Rapid Repair:** Madagascar Giant Day Gecko has the amazing ability to regrow its lost tail or even injured skin, helping them recover from mishaps. - **Dynamic Camouflage:** Madagascar Giant Day Gecko can lighten or darken its green skin to better blend into its surroundings or signal its mood to other geckos. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-30 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 60-90 days ## Diet & Feeding These geckos munch on insects, fruit, and sweet nectar, making them diverse eaters! - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Spiders, Fruit, Nectar, Small lizards - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Pied Crow (*Corvus albus*) — Adult crows may prey on geckos. - **Eaten by:** Madagascar Tree Boa (*Sanzinia madagascariensis*) — Snakes ambush geckos in foliage. - **Eats:** Two-spotted Cricket (*Gryllus bimaculatus*) — Geckos hunt crickets for protein. - **Depends on:** Traveler's Palm (*Ravenala madagascariensis*) — Geckos drink nectar from its flowers. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [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. - [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. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [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. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## 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 Madagascar Giant 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 Madagascar Giant Day Gecko? 20-30 cm ### How much does Madagascar Giant Day Gecko weigh? 0.05-0.1 kg ### How long does Madagascar Giant Day Gecko live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Madagascar Giant Day Gecko move? 8 km/h ### What does Madagascar Giant Day Gecko eat? These geckos munch on insects, fruit, and sweet nectar, making them diverse eaters! ### Where is Madagascar Giant Day Gecko usually found? Forests ### How does Madagascar Giant Day Gecko hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Lyon Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lyon-arboretum) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Curry Hammock State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/curry-hammock-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park - [Micke Grove Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/micke-grove-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [Tierpark Ueckermünde](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-ueckermunde) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Madagascar Giant Day Gecko](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/madagascar-giant-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: [Madagascar Giant Day Gecko: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/madagascar-giant-day-gecko)