Uroplatus henkeli

Animal group: Reptile
Family: Gekkonidae
Length: Up to approximately 28 cm, including the tail
Diet: Insects and other small invertebrates
Habitat: Tropical rainforest and dry deciduous forest
Distribution: Western Madagascar and the island of Nosy Be
Conservation status: Vulnerable

Master of Disguise

Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko has mottled brown, grey and cream colouring that resembles tree bark. Its body is flattened and surrounded by small fringes of skin, which help hide its outline and shadow when it rests against a tree trunk. Its broad, flat tail completes the disguise.

Awake After Dark

This gecko is nocturnal, spending the day hidden against tree trunks before becoming active at night. Large eyes help it see in low light as it searches the branches for insects and other small prey.

Females descend to the forest floor to hide their round, hard-shelled eggs beneath leaves or in soft soil.

Did You Know?

Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko has no movable eyelids. It uses its tongue to lick its eyes clean! The species is threatened by deforestation and the loss of Madagascar’s forests. IUCN species assessment, Reptile Database