A PARTIAL SYSTEMATIC REVISION OF THE DAY GECKOS, PHELSUMA GRAY, OF MADAGASCAR (REPTILIA, SQUAMATA, GEKKONIDAE)

Recent survey work in Madagascar has led to significant changes in the systematics of Madagascan Phelsuma. A new species from the Masoala Pe ninsula in northeastern Madagascar is described, which has a nostril p osition typical of Phelsuma from Mauritius, Reunion and Rodriguez isla nds. Phelsuma breviceps was rediscovered in extreme southern Madagasca r and is resurrected from the synonymy of P. mutabilis. Phelsuma brevi ceps has fragile skin, a probable predator escape mechanism, similar t o the condition found in geckos of the genera Ailuronyx and Geckolepis . Three new synonyms are recognized. Phelsuma befotakensis and P. chec ki are junior synonyms of P. abbotti, and P. minuthi is a junior synon ym of P. lineata. Twenty species of Phelsuma occur in Madagascar, of w hich 16 are endemic. A checklist and identification key are provided. Conservation problems of Phelsuma in the coastal regions of Madagascar are briefly discussed.