Uroplatus

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Uroplatus
Uroplatus sikorae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Gekkonidae Genus: Uroplatus

Uroplatus is a genus of geckos commonly referred to as Flat or Leaf-tailed Geckos. All of the species of this genus are found in primary and secondary forests on the island of Madagascar, and some on islands off Madagascar, such as Nosy Be. They are endemic to Madagascar, and found nowhere else on earth.

The Uroplatus are nocturnal and arboreal. They range in size from about 12 inches (U. giganteus) to 4 inches (U. ebenaui). The larger leaf-tailed geckos spend most of the daylight hours hanging vertically on tree trunks, head down, resting,while the smaller leaf tailed geckos (U.Phantasticus and U.Ebenaui) spend more time in ficus bushes imitating twigs and leaves. During the night, they will venture from their daylight resting spots, and go off in search of prey. They are all insectivores.

They all have coloration developed as camouflage, most being grayish brown to black or greenish brown with various markings meant to resemble tree bark. There are two variations of this camouflage: leaf form, and bark form. The leaf form is present on only two species, U. phantasticus and U. ebenaui, which are also the two smallest species. All other forms blend in well with tree bark upon which they rest during the day. Some of these treebark forms have developed a flap of skin, running the length of their bodies, known as a dermal flap, which they lay against the tree during the day, scattering shadows, and making their outline practically invisible.

Uroplatus are found in the herpetology and pet trade, but rarely. Most are threatened due to deforestation and habitat loss, therefore more are taken out of the wild in areas that are being preped for being cut down. WWF, the World Wide Fund for Nature lists the Uroplatus species on their "Top ten most wanted species" list of animals threatened by illegal wildlife trade, because of it "being captured and sold at alarming rates for the international pet trade". ^[1] Uroplatus spp. are on Appendix II of the CITIES list.

During their breeding season, female Uroplatus lay from 2-4 eggs depending on species and conditions.

[edit] Classification of genus Uroplatus:

• Northern Flat-tail Gecko, Uroplatus alluaudi
• Spearpoint Leaf-tail Gecko, Uroplatus ebenaui
• Giant Leaf-tail gecko, Uroplatus fimbriatus
• Uroplatus giganteus
• Gunther's Leaf-tail Gecko, Uroplatus guentheri
• Frilled Leaf-tail gecko, Uroplatus henkeli
• Lined Leaf-Tail Gecko, Uroplatus lineatus
• Uroplatus malahelo
• Uroplatus malama
• Satanic Leaf-tail gecko, Uroplatus phantasticus
• Uroplatus pietschmanni
• Southern Leaf-tail Gecko, Uroplatus sikorae
  • Mossy Leaftail Gecko, Uroplatus sikorae sameiti
  • Uroplatus sikorae sikorae

[edit] References

[edit] External Links

• Uroplatus Geckos photo pool at Flickr, including these two pictures of the animal resting on tree trunks: [1] and [2]