AUSTRALIAN FANTASY ADVENTURES: June 2015

I BE-LEAF YOU CAN’T SEE HIM!

This creature enthralls my son, Erik. As a matter of fact, he is so fascinated by it that he insisted I write a Leaf-Tailed Gecko into one of my books, and so I did. In my next Australian Fantasy Adventure, we meet Simon, the Destroyer. Simon happens to be a Leaf-Tailed Gecko. I’m not going to tell you much about Simon. Let’s just say that he’s a hired killer!

For now, I’d like you to say ‘Hello’ to the real Leaf-Tailed Gecko.

Photo by Frank.Vassen – http://flic.kr/p/6WoKEV

Handsome fellow, isn’t he?

There are a several different species of Leaf-Tailed Gecko and they all live in the same place, Madagascar and the islands off of Madagascar.

Madagascar is an island located off the southeastern shore of Africa.

They are extremists in the game of camouflage. Skilled at hiding themselves, their skin is rough, and in many cases looks like the bark of a tree or dried leaves that litter the ground. Their tails are shaped liked leaves and the patterns on their heads further help them to blend in with their surroundings. They live in tropical forests and you’ll more than likely find them clinging vertically to a tree, or resting in the leaves on a branch way above your head. They wrap their flat tails around branches to help stabilize them while at rest or as they slowly move along.

These are nocturnal creatures spend the nighttime hours searching for insects and other invertebrates they deem to make a tasty meal. Some Leaf-Tailed Geckos are so big that they have been known to hunt and eat small reptiles as well. They range in size from four to twelve inches in length.

The Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko (Photo credit: Piotr Naskrecki)

They have no eyelids, just a clear membrane that protects the eye. This is why you have seen them ‘licking’ their eyes with their tongues. In researching these creatures, I have read that they are the only reptiles who actually have a voice. I can’t verify that because I haven’t heard them.

They are equipped with special feet. There are small claws on their front feet and adhesive type structures on their back feet. It has been suggested that their ability to stick to smooth surfaces is due to Van der Waals force. Van der Waals force is a bit complicated, but it has to do with forces at the molecular level. Van der Waals is the sum of the attractive or repulsive forces between molecules.

Here are three known species of the Leaf-Tailed Gecko that stopped to have their photo taken. Thanks to Arkive.org for these beautiful pics!

Leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus ebenaui)

(vulnerable, according to IUCN)

Paluma Range leaf-tailed gecko (Phyllurus gulbaru)

(critically endangered, according to IUCN)

Satanic leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus)

(least concern, according to IUCN)

Leaf-Tailed Gecko (http://arkive.org)

Paluma Range Leaf-Tailed Gecko (http://arkive.org)

Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko (http://arkive.org)

Some species are under threat due to habitat destruction and the exotic pet trade.

The Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko fascinates me. It can twist its body in such a way that it looks just like a leaf.

And it certainly is the stuff of horror stories and nightmares.

Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko (Photo credit: Piotr Naskrecki)

I’ve found a fabulous, very short video, which will show you how well this creature has mastered the art of camouflage. You’ll also have a chance to see him ‘licking’ his marbleized eye!