Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko
Scientific Name: Uroplatus henkeli
Habitat: Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko can be on the trees of tropical forests in Madagascar, primarily on the neighboring island of Nosy Bé to the northwest.
Diet: Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko are insectivores meaning that they eat worms, insects, snails, and invertebrates.
Size: 0.3 to 1 foot long.
Weight: 0.02 t0 0.06 pounds
Lifespan: 2 to 9 years in the wild. Up to 10 years in human care.
Conservation Status:
VULNERABLE
Our Henkel's Leaf-Tailed Geckos:
Lehibe
Ravina
Hazo
Alina
Mivatra
Toerana
About Henkel's Leaf-Tailed Geckos:
Also known as the Henkel’s flat-tailed gecko or frilled leaf-tailed gecko, the Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko is endemic to the tropical forests of Madagascar. They are the largest gecko of this genus (Uroplatus) and are identifiable by their unique “leaf” shaped tail that helps them to camouflage them on tree trunks and branches within their habitat. It is unknown how many of these geckos are left in the wild, which is why they have been labelled as a VULNERABLE species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Did You Know?!
- Henkel’s leaf-tailed geckos get their name from their broad, flat tail that looks very leaf-like.
- Henkel’s leaf-tailed geckos are camouflage experts. Some have beards, others have patterns that mimic tree bark or moss.
- Henkel’s leaf-tailed geckos spend much of their lives in the trees, they descend only to lay eggs in the leaf litter on the forest floor.
- Henkel’s leaf-tailed geckos have adhesive pads on their fingers and toes.
- Henkel’s leaf-tailed geckos can shed their tails when attacked. A regrown tail – supported by cartilage, not bone – is often shorter and patterned differently from the original.