Editing Barbour's day gecko

{{Short description|Species of lizard}}
{{distinguish|Barbour's gecko}}
{{more footnotes|date=February 2013}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Barbour's day gecko
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>[[species:Christopher John Raxworthy|Raxworthy CJ]] (2011). "''Phelsuma barbouri'' ". The [[IUCN]] Red List of Threatened species 2011: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T172913A6940694.en. Downloaded on 30 May 2021.</ref>
| image = Phelsuma_barbouri.jpg
| genus = Phelsuma
| species = barbouri
| authority = [[Arthur Loveridge|Loveridge]], 1942<ref>"''Phelsuma barbouri'' ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.</ref>
| range_map = Phelsuma barbouri distribution.png
}}

'''Barbour's day gecko''' ('''''Phelsuma barbouri''')'' is a [[species]] of [[lizard]] in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Gekkonidae]]. The species is [[Endemism|endemic]] to central [[Madagascar]]. It is [[diurnal animal|diurnal]] and typically dwells on rocks. Barbour's day gecko feeds on [[insect]]s and [[nectar]].

==Etymology==
The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]], ''barbouri'', as well as the common name, Barbour's day gecko, are in honor of [[American people|American]] [[Herpetology|herpetologist]] [[Thomas Barbour]].<ref>[[species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]]; [[species:Michael Watkins|Watkins, Michael]]; [[species:Michael Grayson|Grayson, Michael]] (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (''Phelsuma barbouri'', p. 16).</ref>

==Description==
''P. barbouri'' is a middle-sized day gecko. It can reach a total length (including tail) of about {{convert|13.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}. The body colour is brownish green or dark green. Both a dark brown dorso-lateral stripe and a dark brown lateral stripe extend from head to tail. The extremities are normally brown. The tail is unicoloured green and slightly flattened.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==Geographic range==
''P. barbouri'' inhabits the [[highland]]s of central Madagascar in the [[Ankaratra]] Mountains, at altitudes of {{convert|1,600|–|2,640|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name=iucn/><ref>{{EMBL species|genus=Phelsuma|species=barbouri}} www.reptile-database.org.</ref>

==Habitat==
In contrast to other lizards of the [[genus]] ''Phelsuma'', ''P. barbouri'' is terrestrial and typically lives on stones on the ground or on rocks in [[savanna]] [[habitat]].<ref name=iucn/> The [[climate]] of its [[habitat]] is extremely harsh. There is a huge difference in temperature between night and day, and between different seasons. The maximum day temperature is {{convert|30|°C|°F}}. At night, it is cool and foggy.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==Diet==
''P. barbouri'' feeds on various [[insect]]s and other [[invertebrate]]s.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==Behaviour==
''P. barbouri'' often lives in small groups. During the day, it flattens its body to catch as much sun as possible. This way it can reach its preferred body temperature. During the night and in the early morning, ''P. barbouri'' has a dark colour. However, when it is basking, the body colour becomes brighter.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==Reproduction==
Adult females of ''P. barbouri'' glue their eggs under stones. Since additional females may deposit their eggs at the same location, as many as 50 eggs may be found together. At a temperature of {{convert|28|°C|°F}}, the young will hatch after approximately 55 days. The neonates measure {{convert|32|mm|in|abbr=on}}.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==Care and maintenance in captivity==
''P. barbouri'' should be housed in pairs and needs a large terrarium which should provide many places to hide. Group breeding, however, is possible. The terrarium should be earth-based with a number of flat rocks present. It is important that there be some spot lights for basking. The daytime temperature should be around {{convert|29|°C|°F}}, while at night the temperature should drop to {{convert|20|°C|°F}}. In captivity, it can be fed [[Cricket (insect)|cricket]]s, [[Waxworm|wax moths]], [[Drosophila melanogaster|fruit flies]], [[mealworm]]s, and [[Housefly|houseflies]].{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|title=Day Geckos In Captivity|author=Christenson, Leann|author2=Christenson, Greg|year=2003|publisher=Living Art Publishing|location=Ada, Oklahoma|isbn=0-9638130-2-1}} 194 pp. (''Phelsuma barbouri'', p.&nbsp;115).
*[[Frank Glaw|Glaw F]], [[Miguel Vences|Vences M]] (2006). ''A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Third Edition''. Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag. 496 pp. {{ISBN|978-3929449-03-7}}.
*[[species:Friedrich Wilhelm Henkel|Henkel F-W]], [[species:Wolfgang Schmidt|Schmidt W]] (1995). ''Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren''. Stuttgart: Ulmer. {{ISBN|3-8001-7323-9}}. (in German).
*[[Arthur Loveridge|Loveridge A]] (1942). "Revision of the Afro-Oriental Geckos of the Genus ''Phelsuma'' ". ''Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College'' '''89''' (10): 438-481. (''"Phelsuma barbouri'', new species, pp.&nbsp;439, 458-459).
*McKeown, Sean (1993). ''The General Care and Maintenance of Day Geckos''. Lakeside, California: Advanced Vivarium Systems.


{{Taxonbar|from=Q1954808}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barbour's Day Gecko}}
[[Category:Phelsuma|barbouri]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Madagascar]]
[[Category:Endemic fauna of Madagascar]]
[[Category:Reptiles described in 1942]]