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Common Leaf-Tailed Gecko
Uroplatus fimbriatus
One of the largest species of the genus Uroplatus, known for the dermal fringe along its body that camouflages it against tree trunks. Requires large enclosures, mild temperatures, and high humidity.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Gekkonidae
Genus:Uroplatus
Species:Uroplatus fimbriatus
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
70 - 100 %
Day temperature
22 - 24 °C
Ambient temperature
22 - 24 °C
Night temperature
18 - 20 °C
Basking spot
30 - 35 °C
Adult size
19.5 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 80 L
UVB
Low/Medium
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Primary rainforests along the eastern coast of Madagascar and the island of Nosy Mangabe. They spend their days flattened head-down on the trunks of medium-sized trees or saplings a few meters above the ground.
Taxonomy and Genetics: First described by Schneider in 1797, Uroplatus fimbriatus is a distinct member of the Gekkonidae family. As one of the largest species in the genus, it exhibits a highly conserved genotype optimized for camouflage, with no recognized subspecies, although individual phenotype variability in pattern and coloration is significant.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal reptiles, completely by day. They rely entirely on cryptic camouflage for defense; however, if provoked, they can gape their mouth wide open, exposing a bright red interior to startle predators. Handling is prohibited as it is a source of lethal stress.
Morphology: The colossus of the genus, it can reach an impressive 12-13 inches (30-33 cm) in length. It features huge protruding eyes with vertical pupils. The main characteristic is a flap of skin (fringe or fimbria) running along the entire margin of the body. When flattened against a trunk, this flap spreads against the bark, casting out the gecko's shadow. Males have distinct hemipenal bulges at the tail base.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Demand enormous enclosures due to their size and pronounced agility in nocturnal leaps: minimum 24x18x36 inches (60x45x90 cm) per specimen, either all-screen or glass with heavily ventilated fronts. The terrarium must include large cork bark trunks or vertical branches to sleep head-down on during the day.
Lighting and Heating: Mild climate animals. They despise high temperatures: ideal daytime temps are around 72-75°F (22-24°C), NEVER exceeding 79°F (26°C). At night, temps must drop to 64-68°F (18-20°C). Air conditioning systems are mandatory in hot summers. Basking zones are not required.
Humidity and Hydration: Extreme: 75-100% humidity. The air must never be stagnant, but rather cool and moving. They require massive evening misting with automated rain systems to simulate monsoon downpours and induce them to drink from water droplets on the glass.
Feeding and Supplementation: Formidable and voracious ambush predators. They devour large invertebrates such as adult roaches (Blaptica dubia, Gromphadorhina), huge locusts, and crickets methodically dusted with Calcium. Dust with Calcium + D3 and vitamins once a week.
Compatibility: Primarily solitary and highly territorial. Multiple males must never be housed together as they will fight aggressively. In large, densely planted enclosures, a single male can be kept with one or two females, but they must be monitored closely for stress and resource competition.
Health and Common Diseases: Prone to heat stroke and dehydration, which are fatal if temperatures exceed 26°C. They are susceptible to metabolic bone disease (MBD) if calcium supplementation is insufficient, and respiratory infections from poor ventilation. Autotomy (tail drop) is common if they are grabbed or severely stressed.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Primary rainforests along the eastern coast of Madagascar and the island of Nosy Mangabe. They spend their days flattened head-down on the trunks of medium-sized trees or saplings a few meters above the ground.
Origin
Africa and Madagascar
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 19.5 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 19.5 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 19.5 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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