Creature Feature: Satanic Leaf-Tail Gecko.

You didn't think that this whole week was going to be filled with cute fuzzy things, did you? Madagascar also has quite a few awesome Pokemo- I mean reptiles.



The model for Treecko was an actual creature called a leaf-tailed gecko. Three leaf-tailed gecko species are native to Madagascar; the fourth leaf-tailed species is native to Australia. You know, that other weird island.

All leaf-tailed geckos have flattened tails, leading to the generic name Uroplatus - literally, 'flat tail.' This leaf tail can be shorter or longer depending on the species. Some individuals even have notches in their tails that make them further resemble dead leaves.

Only one of the species endemic to Madagascar is called "satanic."



The Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) is also known as the 'fantastic' or 'mythical' leaf-tailed gecko. Science acknowledges that these creatures are amazing right there in the name, and rightfully so: These geckos blend in so well that it is almost impossible to tell them apart from dead leaves. They are MASTERS of camouflage.


I will get one and name him Waldo.

So, why are they called "Satanic?" Probably the eyes.


Seriously, show one off around a Jehovah's Witness.

This does not, of course, keep people from keeping them. Would you let a silly thing like laws stop you from keeping one of the few lizards that comes in purple?

(On a completely unrelated note, expect this lizard to show up in a Lady Gaga video. THEN, expect the Illuminati buffs to pick on the gecko for being Satan.)