Leaf-tailed geckos
| Leaf-tailed geckos | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Uroplatus sikorae sameiti |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Uroplatus | ||||||||||||
| Duméril , 1806 |
The leaf-tailed geckos (English: leaf-tailed gecko) or flat -tailed geckos ( Uroplatus [Greek: uro = tail; platus = flat]), also called uroplates , are 8 to 30 centimeters large nocturnal lizards. Their color is mostly green to brown, but goes all the way to completely black. Red spots and bluish markings have also been observed. A special feature is the leaf-shaped, flat tail that gives it its name and is found in all species. Uroplatus has the slit-like pupils typical of nocturnal reptiles.
Most species spend the day well camouflaged lying flat on branches ( mimesis ), rarely in hollow trunks or in foliage. Uroplatus have sticky toes that allow the animals to find support even on vertical glass panes. In addition, leaf-tailed geckos have retractable small claws that provide additional security on vertical surfaces.
distribution
Leaf-tailed geckos are endemic to Madagascar and its offshore islands. The animals inhabit both flat, wooded coastal strips and high mountain regions.
Keeping in human care
Leaf-tailed geckos are particularly delicate fosterlings due to their climatic demands and only belong in the hands of experienced keepers. Some species require night temperatures well below 20 ° C. Reproduction usually proves to be quite complicated, but offspring succeed regularly if kept correctly. The layer of leaves on the ground usually serves as the egg-laying location, but occasionally also leaf axils or cave hiding places. Since the flat-tailed geckos are endangered in the wild, they are fully listed in Appendix 2 of the Washington Convention on Endangered Species . In 2006 the export of these animals from Madagascar was almost completely stopped.
species
The genus Uroplatus currently comprises 14 species:
- Uroplatus alluaudi Mocquard, 1894
- Uroplatus Ebenaui (Boettger, 1879)
- Uroplatus fimbriatus (Schneider, 1797)
- Uroplatus finiavana Ratsoavina, Louis Jr., Crottini, Randrianiaina, Glaw & Vences, 2011
- Uroplatus giganteus Glaw, Kosuch, Henkel, Sound & Böhme, 2006
- Uroplatus guentheri Mocquard, 1908
- Uroplatus henkeli Böhme & Ibisch, 1990
- Uroplatus lineatus (Duméril & Bibron, 1836)
- Uroplatus malahelo Nussbaum & Raxworthy, 1994
- Uroplatus malama Nussbaum & Raxworthy, 1995
- Uroplatus phantasticus (Boulenger, 1888)
- Uroplatus pietschmanni Böhle & Schönecker, 2004
- Uroplatus sameiti Böhme & Ibisch, 1990
- Uroplatus sikorae Boettger, 1913
literature
- Aaron M. Bauer: Gekkonidae, geckos. In: Steven M. Goodman , Jonathan P. Benstead, Harald Schütz: The Natural History of Madagascar. University of Chicago Press, Chicago IL et al. 2003, ISBN 0-226-30307-1 .
