Head to head
Electric Blue Day Gecko vs Gold Dust Day Gecko
An electric blue day gecko and a gold dust day gecko are close relatives sharing a similarly vivid, colourful appearance, yet their conservation stories could not be more different, one teetering on the edge of extinction, the other thriving well beyond its native range.
| Electric Blue Day Gecko | Gold Dust Day Gecko | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Lygodactylus williamsi | Phelsuma laticauda |
| Native range | A small area of coastal Tanzania | Madagascar |
| Introduced range | None established | Hawaii and other tropical regions |
| Primary colour | Vivid blue (males) | Green with gold speckles |
| Main threat | Habitat loss and pet-trade collection | None significant |
| Diet | Insectivore | Omnivore, including nectar and pollen |
| Habitat | Forest | Forest and coastal |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
Electric Blue Day Gecko vs Gold Dust Day Gecko: common questions
Why is the electric blue day gecko so much more endangered than the gold dust day gecko?
The electric blue day gecko is restricted to only a handful of small forest patches within a tiny area of Tanzania and has faced severe illegal collection pressure specifically because of its striking blue colouration, while the gold dust day gecko occupies a much broader native range in Madagascar and has proven adaptable enough to thrive even outside it.
How did the gold dust day gecko end up living in Hawaii?
The gold dust day gecko has become successfully established as an introduced species in Hawaii and other tropical regions outside its native Madagascar, likely through the pet trade or accidental transport, adapting readily to the warm, humid conditions found across its new range in a way the far more habitat-restricted electric blue day gecko has never had the opportunity to do.
Are the two day geckos closely related?
Both belong to the broader day gecko group of diurnal, often vividly coloured geckos, though the electric blue day gecko and gold dust day gecko belong to different genera, Lygodactylus and Phelsuma respectively, making them relatives within the same general lineage rather than especially close cousins.