Phelsuma mutabilis
—
Thick Tail Gecko
Also known as:
Thicktail Day Gecko
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230511052L.jpeg)
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230511053L.jpeg)
We found this gecko and a couple of others on a wooden shelter in the National Park.
Here is a list of all the reptiles and frogs I saw on this 2023 trip to Madagascar.
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/23051227L.jpeg)
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/23051220L.jpeg)
It rained most of this day, but when the sun came out for a little while so did the day geckos, high up on Pandanus plants.
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230513120L.jpeg)
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230513121L.jpeg)
Hmm, what could be hiding behind that thin leaf? Aha!
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230514092L.jpeg)
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230514091L.jpeg)
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230514085L.jpeg)
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230514084L.jpeg)
I was pleased to discover that most of the trees on the grounds of our lodge included at least one resident gecko.
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230514031L.jpeg)
The tails on this species range from brown to grey to green to turquoise, with or without white spots. I am curious about why, but have no clues.
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230515008L.jpeg)
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230515007L.jpeg)
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230515009L.jpeg)
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230515010L.jpeg)
![Thick Tail Gecko (Phelsuma mutabilis)](../images/herps/standard/230515011L.jpeg)
On the morning of our last day in the field, I took one more opportunity to wander the grounds of our lodge and look for geckos on the trees.
Online references:
- Phelsuma mutabilis account on The Reptile Database
- Phelsuma mutabilis account on iNaturalist
- Angelica Crottini, Philip-Sebastian Gehring, Frank Glaw, D. James Harris, Alexandra Lima & Miguel Vences, 2010. Deciphering the cryptic species diversity of dull-coloured day geckos Phelsuma (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Madagascar, with description of a new species
Printed references:
- Glaw, F., Vences, M. 2007. A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Third Edition