Uroplatus is a
genusIn biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...
of
geckoGeckos are small to average sized lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae, found in warm climates throughout the world. Geckos are unique among lizards in their vocalizations, making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos. An estimated 2,000 different species of geckos exist...
s commonly referred to as
Flat or
Leaf-tailed Geckos. All of the
speciesIn biology, a species is:* a taxonomic rank or* a unit at that rank ....
of this genus are found in primary and secondary forests on the island of
MadagascarMadagascar, or Republic of Madagascar , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to...
, and some on islands off Madagascar, such as Nosy Be. They are endemic to Madagascar, and found nowhere else on earth.
The
genericIn biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...
name,
Uroplatus, is a
LatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Roman conquest, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe...
ization of two
GreekAncient Greek is the historical stage in the development of the Greek language spanning across the Archaic , Classical , and Hellenistic periods of ancient Greece and the ancient world. It is predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
words: "ourá" (οὐρά) meaning "tail" and "platys" (πλατύς) meaning "flat".
The
Uroplatus are nocturnal and arboreal.
Uroplatus is a
genusIn biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...
of
geckoGeckos are small to average sized lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae, found in warm climates throughout the world. Geckos are unique among lizards in their vocalizations, making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos. An estimated 2,000 different species of geckos exist...
s commonly referred to as
Flat or
Leaf-tailed Geckos. All of the
speciesIn biology, a species is:* a taxonomic rank or* a unit at that rank ....
of this genus are found in primary and secondary forests on the island of
MadagascarMadagascar, or Republic of Madagascar , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to...
, and some on islands off Madagascar, such as Nosy Be. They are endemic to Madagascar, and found nowhere else on earth.
Etymology
The
genericIn biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...
name,
Uroplatus, is a
LatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Roman conquest, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe...
ization of two
GreekAncient Greek is the historical stage in the development of the Greek language spanning across the Archaic , Classical , and Hellenistic periods of ancient Greece and the ancient world. It is predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
words: "ourá" (οὐρά) meaning "tail" and "platys" (πλατύς) meaning "flat".
Description
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.
Larger species of
Uroplatus are distinguished among geckos in having the largest number of marginal teeth and the highest among all living
amnioteThe amniotes are a group of tetrapod vertebrates that have a terrestrially adapted egg. They include mammals, birds and reptiles, as well as their fossil ancestors. Amniote embryos, whether laid as eggs or carried by the female, are protected and aided by several extensive membranes. In humans,...
s. Other rare apomorphic character states include multiple inscriptional ribs, restriction of autotomy planes, and finger-like diverticula of the lungs.
They all have coloration developed as
camouflageCamouflage is a method of crypsis that allows an otherwise visible organism or object to remain indiscernible from the surrounding environment through deception. Examples include a tiger's stripes and the battledress of a modern soldier...
, most being grayish brown to black or greenish brown with various markings meant to resemble
treeA tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
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.
Captivity
Uroplatus are found in the
herpetologyHerpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and of reptiles .Herpetology is concerned with poikilothermic,...
and
petA pet is an animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a household animal, as opposed to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful characteristics, for their attractive...
trade, but rarely. Most are threatened due to
deforestationDeforestation is the clearance of naturally occurring forests by the processes of logging and/or burning of trees in a forested area. There are several reasons deforestation occurs: trees or derived charcoal can be sold as a commodity and used by humans, while cleared land is used as pasture,...
and habitat loss, therefore more are taken out of the wild in areas that are being preped for being cut down.
The
World Wide Fund for NatureThe World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in the United States and Canada...
(WWF) lists all the
Uroplatus species on their "Top ten most wanted species" list of animals threatened by illegal
wildlife tradeThe international trade in wildlife is a serious conservation problem. Globally, illegal wildlife trade is often said to be the second largest illegal trade in volume, second to narcotics and followed by arms and ammunition but there is no hard data supporting this claim and recently the CITES...
, because of it "being captured and sold at alarming rates for the international pet trade".
Uroplatus spp. are on Appendix II of the CITES list.
During their breeding season, female
Uroplatus lay from 2-4 eggs depending on species and conditions.
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 NatureThe World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in the United States and Canada...
(WWF) lists all of the
Uroplatus species on their "Top ten most wanted species list" of animals threatened by illegal
wildlife tradeThe international trade in wildlife is a serious conservation problem. Globally, illegal wildlife trade is often said to be the second largest illegal trade in volume, second to narcotics and followed by arms and ammunition but there is no hard data supporting this claim and recently the CITES...
, because of it "being captured and sold at alarming rates for the international pet trade". It is a CITES Appendix 2 protected animal.
Classification of genus Uroplatus
- Northern Flat-tail Gecko, Uroplatus alluaudi
- Spearpoint Leaf-tail Gecko, Uroplatus ebenaui
Uroplatus ebenaui is a gecko which is found on the island Nosy Bé and in northern Madagascar. These geckos live in tropical rain forests. They reach a total length of ....
- Giant Leaf-tail gecko, Uroplatus fimbriatus
Uroplatus fimbriatus is a gecko which is found in eastern Madagascar and on the islands Nosy Bohara and Nosy Mangabe. These geckos live in tropical rain forests. They reach a total length of 330 mm....
- Uroplatus giganteus
- Gunther's Leaf-tail Gecko, Uroplatus guentheri
Uroplatus guentheri is a species of nocturnal gecko belonging to the genus Uroplatus, which is found in northwestern Madagascar in the area around Ankarafansika and near Morondava in western Madagascar. These geckos live on small trees and bushes. They reach a total length of 150 mm. They are...
- Frilled Leaf-tail gecko, Uroplatus henkeli
Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko , is a gecko that is found on the island Nosy Bé near Madagascar, as well as on the mainland Madagascar itself, in the region of Ankaranafantsika. These geckos live an arboreal lifestyle, often venturing down to the ground only to lay eggs in soft soil and leaflitter...
- Lined Leaf-Tail Gecko, Uroplatus lineatus
Uroplatus lineatus is a gecko which is found in eastern Madagascar and on the island Nosy Bohara. These geckos live on trees in tropical rain forests and on bamboo plants. They reach a total length of 270 mm.-Taxonomy and etymology:...
- Uroplatus malahelo
- Uroplatus malama
- Satanic Leaf-tail gecko, Uroplatus phantasticus
- Uroplatus pietschmanni
- Southern Leaf-tail Gecko, Uroplatus sikorae
Uroplatus sikorae is a species of gecko commonly referred to as the Mossy leaf-tailed gecko. This species, endemic to Madagascar, is found in primary and secondary forests on the island...
- Mossy Leaftail Gecko, Uroplatus sikorae sameiti
- Uroplatus sikorae sikorae
External links