Phelsuma guimbeaui rosagularis

This species is Mauritius' rarest one. It was found so far only in the mountain forests of the Macchabée-Bel Ombre and Les Mares biosphere reserves. Here it profits from the nature protection and reforestation program of the WWF, which however is mainly aimed at the preservation of the pink pigeon (Nasoenas mayeri) and the Echo Parakeet (Psittacula eques). Clearly cooler temperatures and very frequent precipitation are characteristic of these mountain forests. During the usually short sunshine periods the animals sit with flattened body on the trunk or the branches to warm up.

Their coloration is dark green to dark grey.

They settle only the higher deciduous trees, which offer sufficient protection and escape possibilities to them. The animals are hardly to be seen die to their hidden way of life and their good camouflage.

Phelsuma guimbeaui rosagularis differs from the guimbeaui guimbeaui by a clearly paler coloration. The design elements on head, body and tail top tend towards a pale-red to oranges colour.

In this subspecies, the blue underlain loop, which forms the median back line within the neck range, is with this subspecies only ansatzweise to be recognized. Further distinguishers are the pink throat, on that the v-design of the Nominatform are missing and in the last third tuerkis to light blue colored tail top side.

A closer look at the throat of the rosagularis shows that it's pink instead of white/yellow. The skin is not as smooth as seen on the g.guimbeaui and instead of dots the rosagularis has stripes on its back.

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