Uroplatus ebenaui explained

Uroplatus ebenaui, commonly known as Ebenau's leaf-tailed gecko, the Nosy Be flat-tail gecko, and the spearpoint leaf-tail gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to Madagascar.

Geographic range

U. ebenaui is found on Nosy Bé island and in eastern and northern Madagascar,^[1] at altitudes from sea level to .

Etymology

The specific name, ebenaui, is in honor of German zoologist Karl Ebenau.^[2]

Habitat

U. ebenaui lives in tropical rain forests and dry deciduous forests.

Description

U. ebenaui is the smallest species of Uroplatus and can reach a total length (including tail) of 4 inches.

Behavior

U. ebenaui is arboreal and nocturnal. This gecko eats insects at night and is inactive during the day. Additionally, it sleeps flattened against tree trunks, camouflaged with the bark.^[1]

Reproduction

U. ebenaui is oviparous. Clutch size is two spherical eggs, which are laid on the ground.

Taxonomy

Uroplatus ebenaui may be a complex of species.

Further reading

• Angel F (1942). "Les Lézards de Madagascar ". Mémoires de l'Académie Malgache, Tananarive 36: 1–193. (Uroplatus ebenaui, p. 80). (in French).
• Boettger O (1879). "Die Reptilien und Amphibien von Madagascar ". Abhandlungen herausgegeben von der senckenbergischen naturforschenden Gesellschaft, Frankfurt 11: 269–283. (Uroplates ebenaui, new species, p. 273 + Plate I, figures 1a-1d). (in German).
• Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. (Uroplates ebenaui, p. 238).
• Glaw F, Vences M (1994). A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar, Second Edition. Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlag / Serpents Tale. 480 pp. .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Edmonds. Devin. species:Devin Edmonds. Spearpoint Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus ebenaui). Amphibian Care. 2002. 2 March 2010.
2. [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]