Giant Leaf-tailed gecko - full body, Nosy Mangabe, Madagascar
"Uroplatus" is a magical word in Madagascar that gets everybody's attention. It means one of Madagascar's iconic reptiles have been spotted. Usually you are not told where exactly it is, leaving you to find it. We failed this time, and our guide pointed out where it is. Closeup:
This one was found during a day walk. Being a nocturnal reptile, it will sleep like this during the day, always facing down. Its color depends on the tree it is on, and how long it has been on it. This one has probably not been on this tree very long yet.
This photo shows their long flat tail after which they are named.
"Uroplatus fimbriatus" is a gecko which is found in eastern Madagascar and on the islands Nosy Bohara and Nosy Mangabe. These geckos live in tropical rain forests. They reach a total length of 330 mm.
A large nocturnal gecko, by day it plasters itself to a small tree trunk and rests head down. If disturbed it will raise its tail and head, open its mouth and scream.
