Uroplatus

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Uroplatus
Uroplatus sikorae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Subfamily: Gekkoninae
Genus: Uroplatus
Species

14 recognized species, see article.

Uroplatus is a genus of geckos commonly referred to as Flat or Leaf-tailed Geckos, which are endemic to Madagascar and its coastal islands, such as Nosy Be. They are nocturnal, insectivorous lizards found exclusively in primary and secondary forest.

Etymology

The generic name, Uroplatus, is a Latinization of two 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). Larger species of Uroplatus are distinguished among geckos in having the largest number of marginal teeth 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]

The skull of Uroplatus phantasticus.

All Uroplatus species have highly cryptic coluration, which acts as camouflage, most being grayish-brown to black or greenish-brown with various markings resembling tree bark. There are two variations of this camouflage: leaf form, and bark form. The leaf form is present in only four described species, U. phantasticus, U. ebenaui, U. finiavana and U. malama, which are also the 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. These geckos bear a resemblance to the Phyllurus and Saltuarius geckos of Australia. This is an example of convergent evolution.

The skull of Uroplatus is strongly ossified, with an extremely high tooth count and incipient secondary palate.[2]

Ecology

Example of camouflage

Uroplatus geckos are exclusively nocturnal. The larger species spend most of the daylight hours hanging vertically on tree trunks, head down, resting, while the smaller leaf tailed geckos (U. phantasticus, U. ebenaui, U. finiavana and U. malama) spend more time in bushes and small trees imitating twigs and leaves. During the night, they will venture from their daytime resting spots, and go off in search of prey. They are all insectivores.

During their breeding season, female Uroplatus lay from 2-4 eggs depending on species and conditions.

Captivity

Uroplatus are found in the herpetology and pet trade, but rarely. Most are threatened by deforestation and habitat loss. The difficulty in diagnosing between species has led to accidental exportation of both threatened and undescribed species.[3]

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.[4] The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) lists all of the Uroplatus species on their "Top ten most wanted species list" of animals threatened by illegal wildlife trade, because of it "being captured and sold at alarming rates for the international pet trade". It is a CITES Appendix 2 protected animal.[4]

Taxonomy

The genus Uroplatus has had a complex taxonomic history. However, the most recent and detailed study suggests there are at least 11 undescribed cryptic species in the genus.[3]

Classification of genus Uroplatus

Uroplatus fimbriatus
  • Uroplatus alluaudi - Mocquard, 1894 - Northern Leaf-tail Gecko
  • Uroplatus ebenaui - (Boettger, 1879) - Spearpoint Leaf-tail Gecko
  • Uroplatus fimbriatus - (Schneider, 1792) - Common Leaf-tail Gecko
  • Uroplatus finiavana - Ratsoavina, Louis Jr., Crottini, Randrianiaina, Glaw & Vences, 2011
  • Uroplatus giganteus - Glaw, Kosuch, Henkel, Sound & Böhme, 2006 - Giant Leaf-tail Gecko
  • Uroplatus guentheri - Mocquard, 1908 - Günther's Leaf-tail Gecko
  • Uroplatus henkeli - Böhme & Ibisch, 1990 - Frilled Leaf-tail Gecko
  • Uroplatus lineatus - (Duméril & Bibron, 1836) - Lined Leaf-tail Gecko
  • Uroplatus malahelo - Nussbaum & Raxworthy, 1994
  • Uroplatus malama - Nussbaum & Raxworthy, 1995
  • Uroplatus phantasticus - (Boulenger, 1888) - Satanic Leaf-tail Gecko
  • Uroplatus pietschmanni - Böhle & Schönecker, 2003 - Cork-bark Leaf-tail Gecko
  • Uroplatus sameiti - Böhme & Ibisch, 1990
  • Uroplatus sikorae - Boettger, 1913 - Mossy Leaf-tail Gecko

References

  1. ↑ Greenbaum, Eli; Bauer, Jackman, Vences, Glaw (2007). "A phylogeny of the enigmatic Madagascan geckos of the genus Uroplatus". Zootaxa (Magnolia) 1493: 41–51. 
  2. ↑ http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2010/05/incredible_leaf-tailed_geckos.php
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ratsoavina, Fanomezana; Raminosoa, Louis Jr., Raselimanana, Glaw, Vences (2013). "An overview of Madagascar's leaf tailed geckos (genus Uroplatus): species boundaries, candidate species, and review of geographical distribution based on molecular data". Salamandra 49 (3): 115–148. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Inclusion of Uroplatus spp. in Appendix II" (pdf). Technical comments in support of amendments to CITES appendices submitted by Madagascar. CITES. 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2008. 
  • Ratsoavina, F.M. et al. 2011: A new leaf tailed gecko species from northern Madagascar with a preliminary assessment of molecular and morphological variability in the Uroplatus ebenaui group. Zootaxa, 3022: 39–57. Preview

External links

Data related to Uroplatus at Wikispecies Media related to Uroplatus at Wikimedia Commons

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