Bluetail Day Gecko

The blue-tailed day gecko (Phelsuma cepediana) is endemic to Mauritius, along with a rare plant, Trochetia blackburniana. The plant's key pollinator, the olive white-eye (Zosterops chloronthos), a small passerine bird, has disappeared across most of its range. Luckily for the Trochetia, the day gecko has stepped in as pollinator. The gecko spends much of its time hiding in patches of Pandanus plants. Trochetia plants that grow nearest to the patches of Pandanus have a good chance of being pollinated by the gecko. The gecko feeds on pollen and nectar, and in doing so it collects pollen just behind its head and on its throat and chest. This pollen is then transferred to neighboring plants as the gecko continues to feed. Interestingly, Trochetia plants have evolved yellow and red nectar, while the nectar of almost all flowers is clear. It turns out that colored nectar actually helps attract the gecko to the Trochetia flowers. Other geckos in the genus Phelsuma besides the blue-tailed day gecko provide pollination services as well. Phelsuma ornata ornata pollinates several plant species on Round Island, and it has been speculated that Phelsuma geckos may be keystone pollinator species in some of their habitats.