Uroplatus sikorae

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 sikorae
from Vohimana Reserve, Andasibe
from Montagne d'Ambre National Park both U. sikorae
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Gekkonidae
Genus:	Uroplatus
Species:	U. sikorae
Binomial name
Uroplatus sikorae (Boettger, 1913)
Geographic range of U. sikorae in Madagascar
Synonyms[2]
Uroplates sikorae Boettger, 1913 Uroplatus fimbriatus sikorae — Mertens, 1933 Uroplatus sikorae — Glaw & Vences, 1994

Etymology

The generic name, Uroplatus, is a Latinization of two Greek words: "ourá" (οὐρά) meaning "tail" and "platys" (πλατύς) meaning "flat".

The specific name, sikorae, is a Latinization of the surname of Franz Sikora, an Austrian fossil-hunter and explorer of Madagascar.[3]

Taxonomy

The species was first described by German zoologist Oskar Boettger but not published until three years after his death.[4] Its common name refers to the mossy-like camouflage patterns and colors of the lizard's skin. The whole complex of U. sikorae is in need of taxonomic revision and probably contains numerous new, undescribed species.[5]

The genus Uroplatus contains 14 species endemic to Madagascar. The species Uroplatus sameiti was considered to be a subspecies of U. sikorae until 2007, when it was proposed to be elevated to species level on the basis of its pale oral mucosa, in contrast to the dark oral mucosa of U. sikorae.[6] Subsequent publications have maintained this separate status, which has now also been verified molecularly.[7] However, in the most recent review of the taxonomy of the genus Uroplatus,[7] it was revealed that the different colour of the mouth is not diagnostic of these two species, as some U. sikorae species were found to share the light oral pigmentation.[7] The diagnosis of these species based on morphology remains difficult.

Phylogenically, U. sikorae has been placed within a monophyletic complex consisting of three other species of Uroplatus: U. fimbriatus, U. giganteus, U. henkeli, and U. sameiti.[8] This complex represents the larger species of the genus.[7][8]

Distribution and habitat

Uroplatus sikorae is endemic to Madagascar.[9] These geckos can be found in primary and secondary forests of the Eastern and central tropical forests of Madagascar.

Description

The mossy leaf-tailed gecko ranges in size from 15 to 20 centimetres (6 to 8 in) when measured from nose to base of the tail. Their eyes are large and lidless, and have yellow sclera with elliptical pupils, suited for the gecko's nocturnal habits. As with all Uroplatus geckos, the tail is dorso-ventrally flattened. U. sikorae has coloration developed as camouflage, most being grayish brown to black or greenish brown with various markings meant to resemble tree bark, down to the lichens and moss found on the bark.

U. sikorae has flaps of skin, running the length of its body, head and limbs, known as the dermal flap, which it can lay against the tree during the day, scattering shadows, and making its outline practically invisible.[10] Additionally, the gecko has a limited ability to alter its skin colour to match its surroundings.[11]

• 
  unknown location, appears to be undescribed species/subspecies
• 
  hidden on branch, Montagne d’Ambre
• 
  revealing itself, Montagne d’Ambre
• 
  Analamazaotra Forest Reserve, Anadasibe

Biology and behavior

Mossy leaf-tailed geckos are nocturnal and arboreal. These geckos rely on their natural camouflage as they dwell among the trees.[9] They spend most of the daylight hours hanging vertically on tree trunks, head down, resting. During the night, they will venture from their daylight resting spots, and go off in search of prey.[10] It has the ability to change its skin color to match its surroundings and possesses dermal flaps which break up its outline when at rest. Mossy leaf-tailed geckos are insectivores eating insects, arthropods, and gastropods.

Captivity

The mossy leaf-tailed gecko is uncommon in captivity and often kept in breeding pairs or trios. They eat a variety of appropriately sized insects including crickets and moths. If breeding is successful in captivity, eggs will be laid every 30 days and take 90 days to hatch.

Threats

Habitat destruction and deforestation in Madagascar is the primary threat to this animal's future as well as collection for the pet trade.[12] 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 them "being captured and sold at alarming rates for the international pet trade". It is a CITES Appendix 2 protected animal.[12]

References

1. Ratsoavina F, Glaw F, Rabibisoa N, Rakotondrazafy NA (2011). "Uroplatus sikorae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011, retrieved 16 February 2012
2. Species Uroplatus sikorae at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
3. 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 sikorae, p. 243).
4. Boettger O (1913). "Reptilien und Amphibien von Madagascar, den Inseln und dem Festland Ostafrikas ". pp. 269–375. In: Voeltzkow A (1913). Reise in Ostafrika in den Jahren 1903–1905. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse. Band III [Volume 3]. Systematische Arbeiten. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Nägele & Dr. Sproesser. ("Uroplates [sic] sikorae", new species, pp. 294–295 + Plate 26, figure 2).
5. Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (December 2018). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar (3rd ed.). Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlags. ISBN 978-3929449037.
6. Pearson R, Raxworthy CJ, Nakamura M, Townsend Peterson A (2007). "Predicting species distributions from small numbers of occurrence records: a test case using cryptic geckos in Madagascar". Journal of Biogeography. 34: 102–117. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2006.01594.x.
7. Ratsoavina FM, Raminosoa NR, Louis EE Jr, Raselimanana AP, Glaw F, Vences M (2013). "An overview of Madagascar's leaf tailed geckos (genus Uroplatus): species boundaries, candidate species, and review of geographical distribution based on molecular data". Salamandra. 49 (3): 115–148.
8. Greenbaum E, Bauer A, Jackman T, Vences M, Glaw F (2007). "A phylogeny of the enigmatic Madagascan geckos of the genus Uroplatus". Zootaxa. 1493: 41–51. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1493.1.2.
9. Bradt, Hilary; Garbutt, Nick; Schuurman, Derek (2001). Madagascar Wildlife: A Visitor's Guide. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 144. ISBN 1-84162-029-7.
10. Pianka, Eric R. (2006). Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 247. ISBN 0-520-24847-3.
11. Selim, Jocelyn (31 March 2005). "A Naturalist's Paradise". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
12. "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.