| Uroplatus garamaso | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Gekkonidae |
| Genus: | Uroplatus |
| Species: | U. garamaso |
| Binomial name | |
| Uroplatus garamaso Glaw, Köhler, Ratsoavina, Raselimanana, Crottini, Gehring, Böhme, Scherz & Vences, 2023 | |
Uroplatus garamaso is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. It is endemic to northern Madagascar. [1]
Uroplatus garamaso was originally not recognized as a distinct species from Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko, being referred to as a population of the latter species for decades. Though recognized as a distinct genetic lineage in 2007, it would not be taxonomically assessed until 2023 when U. garamaso was described as a separate species based on DNA sequencing and external morphology. The specific name contains the Malagasy word maso (meaning 'eye'), in reference to the lizard's distinct eye color. [1]
Based on molecular phylogenetic relationships and general appearance, U. garamaso is placed into the U. fimbriatus group as the sister species to U. henkeli . [1]
Like other member of the genus Uroplatus (commonly known as leaf-tail geckos), U. garamaso has a wide, flattened tail similar in shape to a leaf. With a snout-vent length of 83–139 mm, it is smaller than the related Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko, and also has more extensive yellow-red coloring in the iris as well as an unpigmented tongue tip (as opposed to the black tongue tip of the Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko). Body color is highly variable within this species, with grey to brown base color and darker reticulated patterns, and some individuals may have large areas of uniform light color. [1]
Uroplatus garamaso is endemic to northern Madagascar, with known locations including Montagne d'Ambre National Park, Analamerana, Ankarana, Montagne des Français and likely Antsolipa, where it occurs in deciduous dry forests (both in pristine forest and more degraded areas around plantations). In some areas (such as Montagne d'Ambre), it lives alongside the spearpoint leaf-tail gecko, giant leaf-tail gecko, mossy leaf-tailed gecko and northern leaf-tailed gecko, as well as Uroplatus finiavana at lower elevations, but in Antsolipa it is the only observed Uroplatus species. [1]
This reptile is an arboreal and nocturnal species, being active at night on tree trunks and branches around 1 to 4 meters above the ground. It is known to actively crawl in search of prey, which includes insects. [1]
Breeding behaviour of this species is known from reports of captive individuals, though many such reports were made before Uroplatus garamaso was recognized as a distinct species and thus refer to it as Uroplatus henkeli . However, some have been determined to most likely be referring to this species. [1] Like other Uroplatus species, this gecko is oviparous, with the females reported to lay up to eight clutches in a season, each made up of one or two spherical eggs about 14 to 16 mm in diameter, at approximately 4-week intervals. [2] Eggs are laid on the ground under leaves or logs, and may hatch from 70 to as long as 174 days after being laid, with lower temperatures prolonging the incubation time. These incubation conditions differ little from those of U. henkeli. [3]
Since at least 2001 (and possibly much longer), Uroplatus garamaso has been in the pet trade under a wide variety of names including 'Diego Suarez Henkeli' and 'Uroplatus aff. henkeli'. It is reported to be imported in low numbers to the US (about 3 to 5 individuals per year since 2010), and is also present in the German pet trade. Because the species has been kept in captivity since before it was recognized as distinct from Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko, it is possible the two species have been unknowingly interbred and hybridized during the selection of breeding groups. Breeders of the geckos have been recommended to inspect the lizards carefully to correctly identify their species and avoid crossbreeding, which can be done by inspecting the mouth and tongue color, so that captive populations can be as species-pure as possible. [1] As hybridization between Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko and the more distantly-related common flat-tail gecko is known, it is assumed that crossbreeding between the former and its sister species U. garamaso is possible. [4]
Although it is known to occur in several protected sites, populations of this gecko are under threat from strong human pressure, as slash-and-burn agriculture and cattle grazing take place even within the protected sites. [5] [6] Geckos of the Uroplatus fimbriatus group generally appear to be intolerant towards extensive degradation of their forest habitat, though U. garamaso appears to be rather common in disturbed areas of the Analamerana Special Reserve. This species is also known to be collected for the pet trade, albeit in very low numbers. [1]
Uroplatus is a genus of geckos, commonly referred to as leaf-tail geckos or flat-tailed geckos, which are endemic to Madagascar and its coastal islands, such as Nosy Be. They are nocturnal, insectivorous lizards found exclusively in primary and secondary forest.
Phyllurus is a small genus of Australian leaf-tailed geckos, lizards in the family Carphodactylidae. Rarely seen outside their native habitat, they are notable for their highly effective camouflage which is in part aided by the spiny tubercles that cover every body part.
Uroplatus ebenaui, commonly known as Ebenau's leaf-tailed gecko, the Nosy Be flat-tail gecko, and the spearpoint leaf-tail gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to Madagascar.
The common flat-tail gecko is a gecko endemic to Madagascar. It 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.
Günther's flat-tail gecko, also known commonly as Güenther's leaf-tail gecko, is a species of nocturnal gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.
Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko, also known commonly as Henkel's flat-tailed gecko or the frilled leaf-tail gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.
Uroplatus phantasticus, the satanic leaf-tailed gecko, eyelash leaf-tailed gecko or the phantastic leaf-tailed gecko, is a species of gecko indigenous to the island of Madagascar. First described in 1888 by George Albert Boulenger, U. phantasticus is the smallest in body of the Uroplatus geckos, though there is an ongoing debate as to whether one of its cousins, U. ebenaui, is smaller because of its shorter tail.
The crowned lemur is a lemur that is 31–36 cm (12–14 in) long and weighs 2 kg (4.4 lb). Its tail is about 42–51 cm (17–20 in) long.
The Madagascar dry deciduous forests represent a tropical dry forest ecoregion situated in the western and northern part of Madagascar. The area has high numbers of endemic plant and animal species but has suffered large-scale clearance for agriculture. They are among the world's richest and most distinctive dry forests and included in the Global 200 ecoregions by the World Wide Fund. The area is also home to distinctive limestone karst formations known as tsingy, including the World Heritage Site of Bemaraha.
The northern rufous mouse lemur, northern brown mouse lemur, or Tavaratra mouse lemur is found in northern Madagascar from the Ankarana Special Reserve in the west to the Manambato River in the northeast, and up to the Irodo River in the north of the Analamerana Special Reserve. The complete distribution range of M. tavaratra is still to be defined as some areas surrounding the described distribution have not been visited yet. For example, M. tavaratra has been reported to possibly occur from the Irodo up to the Montagne des Français. Its known distribution cover four protected areas – the Ankarana Special Reserve, and the Analamerana Special Reserve both managed by Madagascar National Parks, the Loky-Manambato protected area (Daraina), and the Andavakoeira-Andrafiamena protected area, both Managed by the NGO Fanamby
The Amber Mountain fork-marked lemur, also known as the Montagne d'Ambre fork-crowned lemur or Tanta, is a small primate, and like the other lemurs, can only be found on the island of Madagascar. The species is named after the Amber Mountain National Park where they are found.
The Ankarana sportive lemur, or Ankarana weasel lemur, is a sportive lemur endemic to Madagascar. It is one of the smaller sportive lemurs with a total length of about 53 cm (21 in), including 25 cm (9.8 in) of tail. Average body weight is approximately 750 grams (1.65 lb). The Ankarana sportive lemur is found in northern Madagascar, living in dry lowland forests in Ankarana, Andrafiamena and Analamerana, and in moist montane forest of Montagne d'Ambre.
Sanford's brown lemur, or Sanford's lemur, is a species of strepsirrhine primate in the family Lemuridae. Sanford's brown lemur was previously considered a subspecies of the common brown lemur but was raised to full species in 2001. It is named after Leonard Cutler Sanford, a trustee of the American Museum of Natural History.
Uroplatus sikorae, commonly referred to as the mossy leaf-tailed gecko or the southern flat-tail gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. It is a CITES II protected animal due to habitat loss.
Uroplatus sameiti is a species of leaf-tailed gecko. Like all members of the genus Uroplatus, U. sameiti is endemic to Madagascar, and is found in primary and secondary forests on the island. It has the ability to change its skin colour to match its surroundings and possesses dermal flaps which break up its outline when at rest.
Uroplatus alluaudi, also known commonly as the northern flat-tail gecko and the northern leaf-tail gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.
Uroplatus pietschmanni, known commonly as the cork-bark leaf-tail gecko, the cork bark leaftail gecko, and the spiny leaf-tailed gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.
Uroplatus finaritra is a species of leaf-tailed gecko native to Madagascar. It can be found in Marojejy National Park, on the island's northeastern side.