Lounge Lizard (The Smaller Of The Two)
Phelsuma laticauda laticauda (Gold Dust Day Gecko)
Kalaheo, Kauai, Hawaii
I first spotted this colorful gecko while lounging poolside in Kauai. As I was laying down I saw it dart around underneath the deck above the planter that was behind me. The next day I decided to bring my camera to the pool in case it made another appearance. Not only did I see it again, but there were two. One was considerably larger (about 6 inches long; the smaller one was thinner and about 1-2 inches shorter). I'm not sure if one was a male and the other was a female, or if the smaller one was younger. Based on their behavior I'm guessing that it was a male and female specimen (the bigger one seemed to be chasing around and trying to attract the attention of the smaller one). After researching the identity of this lizard I learned that it was originally from Madagascar, the Comoros Islands, and the Farquhar atoll in Seychelles. According to geckoweb.org it had been introduced to the Hawaiian islands in 1974 when a student released eight specimens on the University of Hawaii campus. Gold Dust Day Geckos feed on small insects, nectar, pollen, sweet sap, and juices from over-ripe fruit.
Lounge Lizard (The Smaller Of The Two)
Phelsuma laticauda laticauda (Gold Dust Day Gecko)
Kalaheo, Kauai, Hawaii
I first spotted this colorful gecko while lounging poolside in Kauai. As I was laying down I saw it dart around underneath the deck above the planter that was behind me. The next day I decided to bring my camera to the pool in case it made another appearance. Not only did I see it again, but there were two. One was considerably larger (about 6 inches long; the smaller one was thinner and about 1-2 inches shorter). I'm not sure if one was a male and the other was a female, or if the smaller one was younger. Based on their behavior I'm guessing that it was a male and female specimen (the bigger one seemed to be chasing around and trying to attract the attention of the smaller one). After researching the identity of this lizard I learned that it was originally from Madagascar, the Comoros Islands, and the Farquhar atoll in Seychelles. According to geckoweb.org it had been introduced to the Hawaiian islands in 1974 when a student released eight specimens on the University of Hawaii campus. Gold Dust Day Geckos feed on small insects, nectar, pollen, sweet sap, and juices from over-ripe fruit.