Image © Emmanuel Van Heygen
Distribution
Phelsuma astriata astriata occurs on the southern islands of the inner Seychelles (Mahé, Silhouette, Thérèse and Frégate) and on the Astove atoll, the southernmost island of the Seychelles and part of the Aldabra-group.
Terra Typica
Mahé Island, Seychelles
Biotope
Phelsuma astriata astriata prefers the coastal vegetation and lives on coconut palms, agaves, Pandanus sp. and banana plants. Often they also can be found in gardens and on houses. The climate in the habitat is continuously tropical warm with only small seasonal variations in temperature.
Description
Phelsuma astriata astriata is a medium sized day gecko, which reaches a total length of up to 13 cm in both sexes. The basic colour is bright green on the back, which changes into the flank range without sharp delimitation into the whitish colouring of the ventral surface. On the head is a V-shaped marking. A red stripe runs from the lip point to the eye. Behind the head most animals have one or two transverse stripes. A dorsal red line runs from the shoulders to the hind legs, often branched. The rest of the back pattern consists of smaller red dots. In some animals the red dorsal line is replaced by red dots. The rear third of the back as well as the tail can be Turkish blue. On the tail top side weakly reddish crossbars can be present. Both males and females show this colour development but the Turkish tails occur mostly in males.
Synonyms
Phelsuma lineata var. astriata TORNIER - 1901
Phelsuma carinatum RENDAHL - 1939
Phelsuma carinatum maheense RENDAHL - 1939
Phelsuma astriata LOVERIDGE - 1942
Phelsuma astovei FITZSIMONS - 1948
Phelsuma astriata astriata MERTENS - 1962
Phelsuma astriata astovei MERTENS - 1962
Phelsuma carinata EVANS & EVANS - 1980