Robert Mertens's day gecko (Phelsuma robertmertensi) is diurnal species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to the Comoros.
Etymology The specific name, robertmertensi, is in honour of German herpetologist Robert Mertens.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Phelsuma robertmertensi, p. 176).
Description One of the smallest species of its genus, Phelsuma robertmertensi can reach a total length (tail included) of about .. www.reptile-database.org. The body colour can be dark green or bluish green. An orange mid dorsal stripe extends from the head to the tail. The sides of the neck as well as the flanks are greyish brown.
Geographic range Phelsuma robertmertensi inhabits only a small area on the island of Mayotte in the Comoro Islands.
Habitat The preferred natural habitat of Phelsuma robertmertensi is forest, but it is also often found on banana trees and in abandoned vanilla orchid plantations.
Diet Phelsuma robertmertensi feeds on various insects and other invertebrates. It also licks soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.
Reproduction Phelsuma robertmertensi is oviparous. At a temperature of , the young will hatch after approximately 49–53 days. The juveniles measure .
Care and maintenance in captivity Phelsuma robertmertensi should be housed in pairs and needs a well planted terrarium. The temperature should be . The humidity should be 75–100%. In captivity, it can be fed crickets, wax moth larvae, fruit flies, mealworms and houseflies.
References
Further reading
Henkel F-W, Schmidt W (1995). Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Stuttgart: Ulmer. . (in German). McKeown S (1993). The general care and maintenance of day geckos. Lakeside, California: Advanced Vivarium Systems. 143 pp. . Meier H (1980). "Zur Taxonomie und Ökologie der Gattung Phelsuma (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae) auf den Komoren, mit Beschreibung einer neuen Art ". Bonner Zoologische Beiträge 31 (3/4): 323–332. (Phelsuma robertmertensi, new species, pp. 327–330, Figure 1). (in German).