Weird Gecko Alert: The Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko

Geckos are small reptiles that often live in homes; though these can also be found in the wild. They have a similar appearance to the common house lizard though they are of much larger size and sport rougher skin. Though most geckos look quite “common”, did you know that there is a weird gecko with a weird name of “Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko”?

This creature is endemic to Madagascar where it easily blends in with the environment of the northern and central tropical forests in the area. The adult grows to as long as 6 inches (including its leaf-like tail).

This gecko is not really as creepy as its name sounds. It only got the “satanic” part of its name for its large, red eyes and the appearance of small “horns” on its head. Aside from those identifying marks, there is nothing ominous about this gecko.

Unlike house geckos, however, the Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko is made for living in the forest. Its brown coloring already makes it difficult to find among the dried leaves but what makes its camouflage even more effective is the fact that its back and tail appears to look like a dried twig with a leaf.

If unmoving and staying on top of some dried leaves or on the bark of a tree, the Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko will be quite challenging to find.

It is also easy for this gecko to hide from predators as it can flatten its body to make sure it does not have a huge shadow and could easily blend in with its environment. Also, just like house geckos, this one can voluntarily shed off its tail to escape a chasing predator. Cool, isn’t it?

Source: Wikipedia,