Uroplatus henkeli

Uroplatus henkeli is a rather large gecko night and arboricolous (the third cuts some in this kind), which has a squat aspect, with a lengthened tail, out of spatula. The head is massive, crocodilienne. The turn of the body and the head presents an irregular hem of skin (barbules), which is plated on the support where the animal is, thus scrambling the edges of its body and making it difficult with repérer.
These geckos has a base of gray color more or less clearly, beige to see maroon clearly. To that is added irregular bands - even spots - darker. The colors can vary to a certain extent according to mood or from the temperature. Generally their colors allow a camouflage on the trunks, where they spend most clearly their time (aspect lichen or bark).

Geographical distribution

This Species, like the whole the kind Uroplatus , is endemic of the island of Madagascar, where she lives in the primary trees of the forest.

This species is strongly pledged with its Biotope, the forests of Madagascar. Those being threatened, this species is also.

Subspecies

No known subspecies to date.

Climatic parameters

The climate is tropical wet, with thus strong a Hygrométrie (higher than 70% most of the time) and temperatures rather high and stable, enters 24 and 28°C approximately the day and a little more 20°C the night.

The winter is very lenient, with lower temperatures of a few degrees a one duration of the day a little lower.

Breeding in captivity

This species as all the members of this kind is delicate to maintain in captivity. The difficulties are its weak tolerance with the variations of moisture, like with the temperature variations. In particular higher temperatures with 30°C can be to him fatal, which makes delicate its breeding in hot areas.

Note that since 2004 or 2005 this species is subjected to QUOTE, i.e. each animal must be provided with an identification number (given at the time of the purchase) and who is obligatory.

The Terrarium is Arboricole, with a height of at least 80cm. Surface on the ground is of 50x80cm for a couple or a trio.

The terrarium must be equipped with very many vertical branches or in diagonal, and of the hiding-places must be arranged in the branches. Indeed this gecko spends the day to sleep on the trunks (the upside down), and drives out its preys since the branches, while being dropped on elles.
To note for this last point which should be avoided any element which can wound the animal on the ground (stones, low branches).

The ground is composed of Tourbe and/or of chips intended for the reptile S. the Substrat must be able to keep moisture (in order to contribute to the hygroscopy) without damaging (decomposition, Moisissure S) and does not have to be able to be swallowed (thus sufficiently large).

Lighting should not be violent, because these animals live in forest. A contribution of UV (ultraviolet) thanks to a Néon for example is not obligatory but cannot make of evil.

Food

These geckos is Insectivore S, and consumes the majority of the preys having an adapted size (cricket S, cockroach S, Araignée S,…). They capture the insects which pass to their range on the branches where drop themselves on their prey since low branches.

Behavior

In fact very calm geckos count more on their camouflage than on their displacements. They are strictements motionless the day (except if they are disturbed) and slow the night. They can on the other hand move by jumps and climb on all types of surfaces (trees, even smooth rocks) thanks to the setæ with which their fingers are provided.

The males are not very territorial compared to others geckos.

Maturity

These geckos can reproduce at the conclusion of their first year.

Sexage

The male recognizes itself thanks to the presence of two side pockets at the base of the tail, housing of the Hémipénis.

Reproduction

Reproduction with place in spring, the exit of the winter.

Layings

The laying consists of two eggs (a little less 2cm) deposited on the ground in a quiet corner and often slightly enterré.
It seems that the eggs can sometimes be stuck on supports (typically to the base of branches) but those are seldom fertile.

Incubation

Incubation lasts approximately three months, but can last a little less if the temperature is higher than the average.

The small ones

The small ones measure approximately 6cm with the birth. They were not nourissent before their first moults which takes place a few days after the birth. It have then the same food mode as the adults.

Diseases

See too

References:

Philippe Gerard, the breeding of the diurnal geckos and Uroplatus . Philippe Gerard editions, 1998. EAN 97822912521125 . ISBN 2-912521-12-2 .
Atlas of the terrariophile Vol.3: the lizards . Animalia Editions, 2003. ISBN 2-9517895-2-1
Allen, Richard 1996 The leaf-tailed gecko Uroplatus henkeli (Bohme & Ibish 1991) Reptilian 4 (8): 28-29
Böhme, W., and P. Ibisch. 1990 Studien year Uroplatus. L. Der Uroplatus fimbriatus-Komplex. Salamandra 26:246 - 259
Capezzone, F. 1995 has note one hybridization between Uroplatus fimbriatus and Uroplatus henkeli Herptile: Newspaper off the International Herpetological Society 20 (1): 45
Glaw, F. & Vences, Mr. 1994 has off Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles Madagascar. Vences & Glaw Verlag, Köln (ISBN 3-929449-01-3)
Glaw, F. 2004 Die Herpetofauna Madagaskars: Vielfalt, Lebensweise und Gefährdung. Draco 5 (19): 4-21
Heygen, E.v. 2004 The genus Phelsuma GRAY, 1825 one the Ampasindava peninsula, Madagascar. Phelsuma 12:99 - 117
Schmidt, Wolfgang; M_ller, Veronika 1996 Der Blattschwanzgecko Uroplatus henkeli im Terrarium DATZ 49 (2): 103-105
Wilms, T. 2004 Plaunung und Beam eines Reptilienzoos: Reptilium - Terrarien und Wüstenzoo in Pram. Teil 2. Reptilia 9 (3): 78-83

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