Uroplatus


Uroplatus is a genus of geckos, commonly referred to as leaf-tail geckos or flat-tailed geckos, which are endemic to Madagascar and its coastal islands, such as Nosy Be. They are nocturnal, insectivorous lizards found exclusively in primary and secondary forest.

Etymology

The generic name, Uroplatus, is a Latinization of two Greek words: "ourá" meaning "tail" and "platys" meaning "flat".

Description

Geckos of the genus Uroplatus are nocturnal and arboreal. They range in total length from about for U. giganteus to for U. ebenaui. Larger species of Uroplatus are distinguished among geckos in having the largest number of marginal teeth among all living amniotes. Other rare apomorphic character states include multiple inscriptional ribs, restriction of autotomy planes, and finger-like diverticula of the lungs.
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All Uroplatus species have highly cryptic colouration, which acts as camouflage, most being grayish-brown to black or greenish-brown with various markings resembling tree bark. There are two variations of this camouflage: leaf form, and bark form. The leaf form is present in a number of small-bodied species. All other forms blend in well with tree bark upon which they rest during the day. Some of these tree bark forms have developed a flap of skin, running the length of the body, known as a "dermal flap", which they lay against the tree during the day, scattering shadows, and making their outline practically invisible. These geckos bear a resemblance to geckos of the genera Phyllurus and Saltuarius of Australia. This is an example of convergent evolution.
The skull of Uroplatus'' is strongly ossified, with an extremely high tooth count and incipient secondary palate.

Ecology

Uroplatus geckos are exclusively nocturnal. The larger species spend most of the daylight hours hanging vertically on tree trunks, head down, resting, while the smaller leaf tailed geckos spend more time in bushes and small trees imitating twigs and leaves. They are all insectivores.
During their breeding season, female Uroplatus lay from 2-4 eggs depending on species and conditions.

Captivity

Uroplatus are found in the herpetology and pet trade, but rarely. Most are threatened by deforestation and habitat loss. The difficulty in diagnosing between species has led to accidental exportation of both threatened and undescribed species.

Threats

Habitat destruction and deforestation in Madagascar is the primary threat to the future of Uroplatus geckos as well as collection for the pet trade. The World Wide Fund for Nature lists all of 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". It is a CITES Appendix 2 protected animal.

Taxonomy

The genus Uroplatus has had a complex taxonomic history. However, the most recent and detailed study suggests there are at least 11 undescribed cryptic species in the genus, several of which have been described since its publication in 2013.

Species

The following 19 species are recognised.
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Uroplatus.