The Flattened but Prehensile Tail
Relaxing on Tree Trunk
Top of Head can be Beautifully Colored Depending on Light and Emotion
Full Body View on Tree
Uroplatus fimbriatus Skin Uplcose
It Turned to Check out the Camera Lens
The Lateral Body Fringe
The Amazing Foot
The Amazing Tail
This is a Big Gecko Species
EYE SEE YOU
A Fork Tongue Probably Aids in Transporting Scent to the Jacobson's Organ
I acquired a Giant Malagasy Leaf Tailed Gecko last weekend, and I’m very glad I did. I have wanted to work with this species for years (since the late 80′s, and something just never clicked time wise. But now, I had a full grown CB male about a year old, and I was ready to take care of it. Every cryptic gecko, ever cryptic animal, and we can include the best of the best, has to be judged by this genus of lizards, the UROPLATUS. This species being “fimbriatus,” which the literature states means “fringed,” along with that genus Uroplatus (flat-tail in Greek). Anyhow, the gecko was set up in a display that my friend loaned me for this event (the acquisition LOL), and I made it at home. It seems to have settled in, and is more active then I had thought.
At one time, this endemic genus, Uroplatus was available widely in the Pet Trade, but they were never inexpensive. However, in the early 2000′s, the Convention on the Trade In Endangered Species (CITES) rightfully strengthen their listing as to limit exports with specif permits from the country of origin and the destination country. Quotas were set for species as well. I think I have that all right, but if not please correct me, or I’ll vet this info after this account.  This was a good thing. The pet trade was starting to give the genus a hit along with tons of other lizards and snakes at the time. Madagascar is not a huge island nation, as land masses go, but the devastation being placed upon this nation was unreal then, and is still unreal. Resources there are low, and the black market in wildlife is a supplemental source for peoples. In a way, banning certain species just raised their illegal market value. Not only that, tourists have been murdered hunting herps there, and others (some of who were never caught) committed robberies of some of the rarest turtles in the world, the Plowshare tortoise. To this date, some have been found, but I do no think there have been any arrests as to who raided a breeding facilities of their tortoises. Every year you read about some key with lizards packed to his thighs being busted on his way out of Madagascar or one of their transfer points. Madagascar herps (reptiles and amphibians) are some of the most bizarre in the world, and the market for these animals is almost insatiable. I had hopped that by this time, an economy would have been established for natives that would allow them to both conserve habitat, breed animals for the pet trade, and reduce stress on the wild populations. In fact, I had once talked to a World Bank Representative about this very topic at a Maryland Herp show circa 1990.
Back to the Uroplatus fimbriatus that I have. This is a gorgeous animal, if not bizarre looking to some people. It is the largest member of the genus, running up to almost 8 inches. Mine falls in around 7.5 inches. See images below. This lizard has been fashioned over time to mimic the lichenous bark of trees, and they blend in very well. Their tails are large, and wafer thin- but still prehensile (which is very strange, see photo). The large feet allow adhesion and climbing on almost any surface. Their favorite position is head-down on a tree-trunk, with rear legs straight back. Here it will ambush prey as they ascend the tree. The eyes bear a pupil that is perfectly designed for low light vision, yet can shrink to a thin slit in bright light. A fringe runs along the animals lower flanks, laterally- adding to the “lichenous” look. Even the head has a few projections hear and there. Numerous accounts show that this gecko, if annoyed, will haunch up on its four legs, and open its mouth, while screaming (I understand the cry is scary). The red warning color of the throat showing.  They can bite, but rarely will.  Captive Uroplatus fimbriatus will eat walking sticks, giant roaches, crickets, and other invertebrates. With supplementation they fare very well, and many animals are now captive bred in the United States. Females lay 2 to 4 eggs, that are usually deposited near substrate.
A moral question again rises as to what actions human intervention should have had in this- if at all. I’ve talked about this before many times with very well-meaning people, from liberals to conservatives. And its always a very personal call. I think people should have the right to keep and study legally produced species that are not prohibited in the U.S. I even argue for some recent laws that might prevent the keeping of other species. Amateur herpers, as well as zoos, have helped unlock many secrets relating to husbandry, diet, and over all care. This knowledge may go a long way if the animals were extirpated on Madagascar. We can go on about whether an animal should be allowed to go extinct.  But also remember, some physiological trait, some chemical that might be in their skin, could one day provide information for medical science. I think its a good judgement call to try to unlock these animals secrets, and keep colonies alive in captivity. Properly, carefully, and professionally. Let us all hope that however this pans out, that this animal may still live int he wild in the future. And let us hope that we learn enough so that we may accomplish this.
Enough of the defense of the captive bred, and please enjoy the absolute beauty of this animal, in the series of images that I run here.  I tried to show the distinctive characters of the animal, and use some camera angles that might add to their visual study. Please ENJOY!! NG.
