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Cork-bark Leaf-tailed Gecko
Uroplatus pietschmanni
Cork-bark leaf-tailed gecko. A rare, highly camouflaged Malagasy gecko that mimics rough mossy bark with its spiky skin, moss-like coloration, and flattened body.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Gekkonidae
Genus:Uroplatus
Species:Uroplatus pietschmanni
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
75 - 95 %
Day temperature
24 - 28 °C
Ambient temperature
20 °C
Night temperature
18 - 20 °C
Basking spot
26 °C
Adult size
8.1 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 80 L
UVB
Basso
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic strictly to the moist, high-altitude rainforests of eastern Madagascar, particularly near Ambatovy. It is a highly arboreal species that dwells on moss-covered trunks, vines, and branches between 2 and 4 meters above the forest floor.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A medium to large gecko reaching over 15 cm in length, including its broad, flat, leaf-like tail. Its skin features spiky dermal flaps and a bark-like texture colored in shades of mossy green, brown, and grey, allowing it to blend seamlessly with lichen and cork bark.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal and arboreal. During the day, it sleeps head-down on tree trunks, flattening its body and dermal fringes against the bark to eliminate shadows. At night, it becomes an active ambush predator, catching insects with its wide jaws.
Morphology: Males and females exhibit distinct differences. Mature males possess prominent hemipenal bulges at the base of the tail and are generally more slender than adult females, which have wider pelvic areas.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a tall, well-ventilated vertical terrarium (minimum 60x45x90 cm). Provide thick, rough branches, cork bark tubes, and live plants with sturdy foliage. Ensure the back and side walls are covered in cork bark sheets to facilitate climbing.
Lighting and Heating: Prefers cool, temperate conditions. Maintain daytime temperatures between 22°C and 25°C. Avoid temperatures above 28°C, which can cause fatal heat stroke. Nights should cool down to 18-20°C. Low-level UVB (5%) is beneficial.
Humidity and Hydration: Requires high humidity (75-90%) with daily heavy misting at night. Good air circulation is critical to prevent mold. They will drink water droplets from the glass and leaves; do not use stagnant bowls.
Feeding and Supplementation: Insectivorous. Feed on crickets, locusts, and roaches offered in elevated cups or on branches. Dust all prey items with calcium at each feeding, and add D3 and Vitamin A supplements weekly.
Compatibility: Sensitive and solitary. Best housed individually or in established pairs. Do not house males together, and avoid crowded setups, as stress can cause rapid decline. Keep their enclosure in a quiet, dark room.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly vulnerable to dehydration, leading to shedding issues around the eyes and toes. Ensure proper ventilation to prevent skin infections. Handle as little as possible to avoid skin tears or tail autotomy.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Endemic strictly to the moist, high-altitude rainforests of eastern Madagascar, particularly near Ambatovy. It is a highly arboreal species that dwells on moss-covered trunks, vines, and branches between 2 and 4 meters above the forest floor.
Origin
Africa and Madagascar
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 8.1 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 8.1 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 8.1 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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