Are we all just a product of our environment? Well, this animal certainly is!
The Leaf-Tailed Gecko (also known as Uroplatus, the Greek word for “flat-tailed”) is a nocturnal, tree-dwelling lizard from the forests of Madagascar, and is an expert in the art of camouflage.
As an arboreal lizard, it will spend most of its time camouflaging with the trees. Its color and texture are nearly identical to that of the tree bark found in its natural habitat, allowing it to turn virtually invisible to larger, hungrier animals. The color of its skin will even change to match the bark.
For a moment I thought this was just a well-photographed log!
It also has flaps of skin running the length of its body so it can completely flatten against the bark
What an amazing animal!
Imagine if there were no trees or logs around for the Leaf-Tailed Gecko. Things would get pretty weird, since its existence has been shaped around looking almost exactly like the bark found in its environment.
So, it is literally a product of its environment. Think about it for a moment: how much of our own lives is shaped by our surroundings? Like all living things, you adapt to what’s in your environment. Then, over time, your identity as a person is sculpted around it. You could even say that you’re half you, and half your environment, both of which are constantly changing. So, look around your environment and you might see a glimpse of your future self! Wild, isn’t it?
Thinking about adopting a Leaf-Tailed Gecko as a pet? They can actually live up to 10 years in captivity. A fully grown adult can be 10 to 12 inches in length.
Give them a lush, forest-like environment to help them feel safe. They love to eat crickets and cockroaches!
We’re excited for you to meet our Leaf-Tailed Gecko in person and take lots of pictures. Thank you all for your support. We hope to see you soon!
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