Satanic leaf-tailed gecko

Uroplatus phantasticus · The satanic leaf-tailed gecko is a nocturnal gecko species endemic to the tropical forests of Madagascar.

Also called Eyelash leaf-tailed gecko, Phantastic leaf-tailed gecko.

Satanic leaf-tailed gecko
Photo: Frank Vassen from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY 2.0
Satanic leaf-tailed gecko
Photo: Julien Renoult, CC BY 4.0
Satanic leaf-tailed gecko
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyGekkonidae
GenusUroplatus
SpeciesUroplatus phantasticus

Where it lives

Rainforests of eastern Madagascar.

Fun facts

  • It has no eyelids and instead uses its long, mobile tongue to wipe debris from its eyes.
  • When threatened, it opens its jaws wide to flash a startling bright red mouth at predators.
  • It can voluntarily shed its own tail to trick and escape a predator.
  • Some individuals even have notches in their tails to mimic a decaying leaf.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).