Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus henkeli), also known commonly as Henkel's flat-tailed gecko or the frilled leaf-tail gecko,[2] is a species of gecko, a lizard in the familyGekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.
U. henkeli is found in primary forest on the island of Nosy Bé near Madagascar, as well as on the mainland of Madagascar itself, in the region of Ankaranafantsika.[1]
Behaviour
Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko lives an arboreal lifestyle, often venturing down to the ground only to lay eggs in soft soil and leaf litter.
Description
There are two different morphs of U. henkeli, the Nosy Bé form and the mainland Madagascar form, and they can be distinguished by their colouration patterns, though these are not always reliable. Reaching a total length (including tail) of 280 mm (11 in), this is one of largest species in the genus.
Diet
Henkel's flat-tailed gecko is insectivorous, but will also eat snails if they are found.
Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko is currently classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. Habitat destruction and deforestation in Madagascar is the primary threat to this animal's future as well as collection for the pet trade. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) lists all of the Uroplatus species on their "Top ten most wanted species list" of animals threatened by illegal wildlife trade, because of it "being captured and sold at alarming rates for the international pet trade". It is a CITES Appendix 2 protected animal.[1][3]
^ abBeolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Uroplatus hedersoni, p. 121).
^(PDF). Technical comments in support of amendments to CITES appendices submitted by Madagascar. CITES. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
Further reading
Böhme W, Ibisch PL (1990). "Studien an Uroplatus. I. Der Uroplatus fimbriatus-Komplex ". Salamandra26 (4): 246–259. (Uroplatus henkeli, new species). (in German).
henkel, leaf, tailed, gecko, uroplatus, henkeli, also, known, commonly, henkel, flat, tailed, gecko, frilled, leaf, tail, gecko, species, gecko, lizard, family, gekkonidae, species, endemic, madagascar, conservation, statusvulnerable, iucn, scientific, classif. Henkel s leaf tailed gecko Uroplatus henkeli also known commonly as Henkel s flat tailed gecko or the frilled leaf tail gecko 2 is a species of gecko a lizard in the family Gekkonidae The species is endemic to Madagascar Henkel s leaf tailed geckoConservation statusVulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily GekkonidaeGenus UroplatusSpecies U henkeliBinomial nameUroplatus henkeliBohme amp Ibisch 1990Geographic range of Uroplatus henkeli Contents 1 Geographic range 2 Behaviour 3 Description 4 Diet 5 Etymology 6 Threats 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksGeographic range EditU henkeli is found in primary forest on the island of Nosy Be near Madagascar as well as on the mainland of Madagascar itself in the region of Ankaranafantsika 1 Behaviour EditHenkel s leaf tailed gecko lives an arboreal lifestyle often venturing down to the ground only to lay eggs in soft soil and leaf litter Description EditThere are two different morphs of U henkeli the Nosy Be form and the mainland Madagascar form and they can be distinguished by their colouration patterns though these are not always reliable Reaching a total length including tail of 280 mm 11 in this is one of largest species in the genus Diet EditHenkel s flat tailed gecko is insectivorous but will also eat snails if they are found Etymology EditThe generic name Uroplatus is a Latinization of two Greek words oura oὐra meaning tail and platys platys meaning flat The specific name henkeli is a Latinization of German herpetologist Friedrich Wilhelm Henkel s last name 2 Threats EditHenkel s leaf tailed gecko is currently classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Habitat destruction and deforestation in Madagascar is the primary threat to this animal s future as well as collection for the pet trade The World Wide Fund for Nature WWF lists all of the Uroplatus species on their Top ten most wanted species list of animals threatened by illegal wildlife trade because of it being captured and sold at alarming rates for the international pet trade It is a CITES Appendix 2 protected animal 1 3 Two U henkeli hanging head down from a glass wall of a display in the Museum of Science BostonReferences Edit a b c Raxworthy CJ Vences M in French 2010 Uroplatus henkeli IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010 e T178653A7589062 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2010 4 RLTS T178653A7589062 en a b Beolens Bo Watkins Michael Grayson Michael 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press xiii 296 pp ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Uroplatus hedersoni p 121 Inclusion of Uroplatus spp in Appendix II PDF Technical comments in support of amendments to CITES appendices submitted by Madagascar CITES 2004 Archived from the original PDF on 23 November 2008 Retrieved 2 November 2008 Further reading EditBohme W Ibisch PL 1990 Studien an Uroplatus I Der Uroplatus fimbriatus Komplex Salamandra 26 4 246 259 Uroplatus henkeli new species in German External links Edithttp whozoo org Intro2001 rolabote RB gecko htm https web archive org web 20080108225458 http www scz org animals g henkel html Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henkel 27s leaf tailed gecko amp oldid 1145707536, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
