The Satanic leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) is a gentle reptile that, despite its name, prefers to take a quiet nap in the forests of Madagascar. It evolved an extreme method of camouflage: turning into a dead leaf.
Quick Fact: Satan's Leaf-Tailed Gecko
- Scientific name: Phantom fern
- Common name: Satan leaf-tailed gecko
- Basic animal group: reptiles
- Size: 2.5–3.5 inches
- Weight: 0.35–1 oz
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Dieting: Carnivores
- Habitat: Mountain rainforest in eastern Madagascar
- State of conservation: Least concern
description
The Satanic leaf-tailed gecko is one of 13 recognized species belonging to the genus Uroplatus, a gecko lizard found on the island of Madagascar in the 17th century. The 13 species were divided into groups, based in part on the vegetation they mimicked. U. phantasticus belongs to the genus named U. Ebenaui's group, which consists of three members, including U.malama and U. Ebenaui: These three look like dead leaves.
All leaf-tailed geckos have long, flattened bodies with triangular heads. The color of the Satanic leaf-tailed gecko is mottled brown, gray, tan or orange, the same color as the rotting leaves in the natural environment. The gecko's body curves like the edge of a leaf, and its skin is marked with lines that mimic the veins of the leaf. But the most striking accessory in the leaf-tailed gecko's camouflage is undoubtedly its tail: the gecko has all the U. The longest and widest tail in the Ebenaui group. The lizard's tail is not only shaped and colored like leaves, but also has notches, frills and blemishes, more like dead leaves gnawed by insects.
Like other members of its group, the Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko is small compared to other Uroplatus groups, measuring between 2.5 and 3.5 inches in length, including its tail.
Habitat and distribution
The Satanic leaf-tailed gecko is found only in the montane rainforests of eastern two-thirds of the southern part of Madagascar, a large island nation off the southeast coast of Africa. It is found camouflaged as a deciduous at the base of the tree and rises about 6 feet tall to the trunk. Madagascar's forests are known for their unique wildlife, and in addition to being the world's only known habitat for the Satanic leaf-tailed gecko, they are home to lemurs and nests, as well as hissing cockroaches.
Diet and behavior
The Satanic leaf-tailed gecko rests all day, but as soon as the sun sets, it wanders around to eat. Its large eyes without eyelids are designed to spot prey in the dark. Like other lizards, this gecko is thought to feed on anything it can catch and stuff into its mouth, from crickets to spiders. However, there has been little research on Satanic leaf-tailed geckos in their native environment, so we can't be sure what else they eat.
The Satanic leaf-tailed gecko does not rely on passive camouflage to protect itself. When resting, it also behaves like a leaf. Geckos sleep with their bodies flat on the trunk or branches, head down and leaf tails facing up. If desired, it twists the body to highlight the leaf-like edge and help it blend in.
It has limited ability to change color, and when camouflage fails, it flicks its tail upwards, throws its head back, opens its mouth to reveal a bright orange-red interior, and sometimes even emits a loud distress signal.
Reproduction and offspring
In their native Madagascar, the beginning of the rainy season also marks the beginning of the gecko breeding season. When sexually mature, the male Satan leaf-tailed gecko has a bulge at the base of its tail, while the female does not. The female is oviparous, meaning she lays eggs and the pups complete their development outside the body.
The female gecko lays her clutch, two or three spherical eggs, in the deciduous leaves on the ground or in the dead leaves of the plant. This allows the pups to remain hidden when they emerge after about 95 days. She may endure two or three clutches a year. Little is known about this mysterious animal, but it is believed that mothers let the eggs hatch and make their own.
Protect status quo and threats
Although currently listed as the least concerned species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, this unusual lizard may soon be at risk. Madagascar's forests are degrading at an alarming rate. Exotic pet enthusiasts have also created a high demand for collecting and exporting the species, which is currently illegal but is likely to continue to be held in small amounts.