Madagascar Day Geckos are medium-sized lizard (large for a gecko) generally coloured emerald. They have large eyes with rounded pupils (to better control daylight vision) surrounded by a circle of bright blue. They may have rust-coloured markings on their face and down their spine. Their tails are at least as long as their body. Their splayed toes are large relative to their body size.
 
One of about sixty ‘day geckos’ known to be diurnal (rather than nocturnal), Madagascar’s uses its vivid colours—emerald, red and blue—to camouflage against the native leaves, fruits and flowers of its tropical forest home.
 
Diet
Insects and other invertebrates comprise the majority of their diet due to their forest home. But they will also eat over-ripe (soft) fruit like banana and papaya, pollen and nectar. They gather water from leaf condensation.
 
Scientists have noted that they are particularly choosey about what they eat in managed care, discarding perfectly good morsels before finally deciding which they’ll eat.
 
In the Wild
This gecko is independent from the moment it hatches from its egg, when it moves off into the forest to fend for itself.  In the absence of parental care, young geckos are particularly aggressive in the defence of themselves or food resources.
 
It is a generalist (when it comes to habitat and prey) which enables them to adapt well in a range of circumstances and locations. As a day-active gecko, this species can thermoregulate by basking in the sun when it feels safe enough to do so.
 
The estimated six-year wild lifespan of this gecko is half of what it achieves in quality managed care. Because of its adaptability, this animal is often found in human settings (buildings and gardens) where it finds ample food and basking opportunities. But this adaptation to the spread of humans into forest areas makes them vulnerable to harm and exploitation.
 
Threats
The greatest threat to this stunning gecko is human interactions—either habitat loss (through deforestation) or exploitation for the pet trade. 2000 Madagascar Day Geckos are believed to be illegally removed from the wild every year to support the growing pet market.
 
Natural threats to this species include birds-of-prey, arboreal mammals and bigger reptiles (including other geckos). Their strategy to survive this is ‘crypsis’—they camouflage expertly in their rainforest setting. This happens in balance with the tropical food web and is sustainable.
 
Conservation efforts are focussed on habitat preservation and regulating the pet trade to ensure these unique geckos remain a vibrant part of Madagascar’s biodiversity.