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Gekkota, Gekkonidae, Gekkoninae, Genus Uroplatus: Flat-Tailed Geckos |
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| The Uroplatus geckos are endemic to Madagascar. They are nocturnal, have large eyes with verticle pupils, a large triangular head, and a short, flat tail. Flaps of skin occur along the margins of the lower jaw, body, and limbs of most species. The flat tails often mimic leaves. The cutaneous fringe serve to breakup the outlines of these cryptic lizards. When stressed they may drop their tail, and the only fracture point is at the base, thus they loose the entire tail. At the same time they drop their tail at least two species will give off a distress call. Uroplatus has the largest number of teeth among all lizards, despite them being numerous, they are tiny. Adult snout-vent lengths range from 42 mm to more than 190 mm. Currently 12 species are recognized. | |
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