Uroplatus fimbriatus - Giant Leaf-tailed Gecko

            Uroplatus is a genus of geckos commonly referred to as Flat or Leaf-tailed Geckos. All of the species of this genus are found in primary and secondary forests on the island of Madagascar, and some on islands off Madagascar, such as Nosy Be. They are endemic to Madagascar, and found nowhere else on earth

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

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 amniotes. Other rare apomorphic character states include multiple inscriptional ribs, restriction of autotomy planes, and finger-like diverticula of the lungs.[1]

They all have coloration developed as camouflage, most being grayish brown to black or greenish brown with various markings meant to resemble tree 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.

-Wikipedia-

Taken on: October 25, 2008

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Uroplatus fimbriatus

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Camera: Nikon D300, f/13.0, 1/125 sec, 150mm (=225mm), ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D300
Aperture:	f/13.0
Exposure Time:	0.008 sec (1/125)
Focal Length:	150mm (35mm equivalent: 225mm)
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	On, Return not detected
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
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