Editing Rodrigues day gecko

{{Short description|Extinct species of lizard}}
{{Refimprove|date=October 2022}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Rodrigues day gecko
| image = Phelsuma_edwardnewtoni.jpg
| image_caption = Museum specimen
| status = EX
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>[[species:Nik C. Cole|Cole N]] (2021). "''Phelsuma edwardnewtoni'' ". The [[IUCN]] Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T17432631A17432636.en. Accessed on 30 October 2022.</ref>
| genus = Phelsuma
| species = edwardnewtoni
| authority = [[species:Joseph Lucien Jean Vinson|J. Vinson]] & [[species:Jean-Michel Vinson|J.-M. Vinson]], 1969
| extinct = 1917
| synonyms = *''Phelsuma newtoni'' <br>{{small|[[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], 1884}}
*''Phelsuma newtonii'' <br>{{small|— Boulenger, 1885}}
*''Phelsuma edwardnewtoni'' <br>{{small|J. Vinson & J.-M. Vinson, 1969}}
*''Phelsuma edwardnewtoni'' <br>{{small|— [[Arnold G. Kluge|Kluge]], 1993}}
*''Phelsuma edwardnewtoni'' <br>{{small|— [[species:Herbert Rösler|Rösler]], 2000}}
| synonyms_ref = <ref>{{EMBL species|genus=Phelsuma|species=edwardnewtoni}} www.reptile-database.org.</ref>
}}
The '''Rodrigues day gecko''' ('''''Phelsuma edwardnewtoni'''''), also known [[Common name|commonly]] as the '''Rodrigues blue-dotted day gecko''', is an [[extinct]] [[species]] of [[day gecko]], a [[lizard]] in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Gekkonidae]]. The species was [[Endemism|endemic]] to the island of [[Rodrigues (island)|Rodrigues]], where it typically inhabited [[forest]]s and dwelt in [[tree]]s. The Rodrigues day gecko fed on [[insect]]s and [[nectar]].

==Taxonomy==
[[File:Rodrigues day gecko.jpg|thumb|left|upright|1885 illustration]] 
The Rodrigues day gecko was originally described as ''Phelsuma newtoni'' by [[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]] in 1884, also spelt ''Phelsuma newtonii'' by Boulenger in 1885. However, because this [[Binomial nomenclature|scientific name]] was also used as a synonym for ''[[Phelsuma gigas]]'', Vinson & Vinson changed the specific name to ''edwardnewtoni'' in 1969.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]], ''edwardnewtoni'', is in honor of [[British people|British]] colonial administrator and [[Ornithology|ornithologist]] [[Edward Newton]].<ref>[[species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]]; [[species:Michael Watkins|Watkins, Michael]]; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (''Phelsuma edwardnewtoni'', p. 80).</ref>

==Description==
''P. edwardnewtoni'' was one of the largest day geckos. It reached a total length (including tail) of about {{convert|23|cm|in|abbr=on}}. Earlier investigators describe the animal as being quite common. However, this species has not been sighted since 1917, in spite of thorough searches in the 1960s and 1970s on Rodrigues and all offshore islets. Today, only six preserved specimens remain, which are in The [[Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum]] in [[London]] and the [[Muséum national d'histoire naturelle|Paris Natural History Museum]]. These specimens have been preserved in alcohol and show a thick-bodied, robust ''Phelsuma''. The body colour in life has been described as bright green with bright blue spots on the backside. The underside of the tail was whitish-yellow. The chin had a deep yellow colour.<ref name=iucn/>

==Behaviour and ecology==
[[File:Leguat1891frontispieceFr1708.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Book frontispiece|Frontispiece]] to Leguat's 1708 [[memoir]], showing his settlement on Rodrigues; a gecko can be seen in the palm-tree|alt=Drawing of houses on Rodrigues]]
The species ''P. edwardnewtoni'' inhabited Rodrigues Island and its surrounding islets. ''P. edwardnewtoni'' was observed on coconut trees and other palms. Its habitat has been largely destroyed by humans and introduced animals such as cats and rats, which may have been the main cause of its extinction.<ref name=iucn/>

This day gecko fed mainly on palm fruit, and various insects and other [[invertebrate]]s associated with palm trees.<ref name=iucn/> It also liked to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.

''P. edwardnewtoni'' was documented as being unafraid of [[human]]s. It was quite tame and would even eat [[fruit]] from one's hand. [[François Leguat|Leguat]] described the behaviour as follows:
{{Quotation|The Palmtrees and Plantanes are always loaden with Lizards about a foot long, the Beauty of which is very Extraordinairy; some of them are blue, some black, some green, some red, some grey, and the colour of each the most lively and bright of any of its kind. Their common Food is the Fruit of the Palm-Trees. They are not mischievous, and so Tame, that they often come and eat the Melons on our Tables, and in our Presence, and even in our Hands; they serve for Prey to some Birds, specially the Bitterns. When we beat 'em down from the Trees with a Pole, these Birds wou'd come and devour them before us, tho' we did our utmost to hinder them; and when we offered to oppose them, they came on still after their Prey, and still followed us when we endeavoured to defend them.<ref name="Lost Land">{{cite book|author=[[species:Anthony S. Cheke|Cheke AS]], [[species:Julian P. Hume|Hume JP]]|year=2008|title=Lost Land of the Dodo: an Ecological History of Mauritius, Réunion & Rodrigues|publisher=T. & A.D. Poyser|location=New Haven and London|isbn=978-0-7136-6544-4}}</ref>}}

It can also be noted that the behavior of this species was most likely very similar to other island dwelling day geckos such as the Madagascar giant day gecko (''[[Phelsuma grandis]]'') and [[Standing's day gecko]] (''P. standingi)'' which share a very similar niche as this species.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
[[File:Rodrigues night heron restoration.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Paleoart|Restoration]] of a [[Rodrigues night heron]] (''Nycticorax megacephalus'') eating a Rodrigues day gecko, based on contemporary accounts, remains, and related species. Both species are now extinct.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*[[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger GA]] (1884). "Note upon a large Lizard of the Genus ''Phelsuma'', from Rodriguez, sent by Mr. J.C. O'Halloran". ''Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London'' '''1884''': 1-2. ("''Phelsuma newtoni'' [sic]", new species).
*Boulenger GA (1885). ''Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ ...'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. ("''Phelsuma newtonii'' [sic]", pp.&nbsp;212–213 + Plate XVII).
*[[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}}.
*[[Sean McKeown|McKeown, Sean]] (1993). ''The general care and maintenance of day geckos''. Lakeside, California: Advanced Vivarium Systems.
*[[species:Joseph Lucien Jean Vinson|Vinson J]], [[species:Jean-Michel Vinson|Vinson J-M]] (1969). "The saurian fauna of the Mascarene Islands". ''Mauritius Institute Bulletin'' '''6''': 203–320. (''Phelsuma edwardnewtoni'', replacement name).


{{Taxonbar|from=Q1462561}}

[[Category:Phelsuma]]
[[Category:Fauna of Rodrigues]]
[[Category:Reptile extinctions since 1500]]
[[Category:Reptiles described in 1969]]