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The satanic leaf-tailed gecko,

Uroplatus phantasticus,

is a species of gecko indigenous to the island of Madagascar.

It is an arboreal species that relies on its natural camouflage to hide from predators.

The leaf-tailed gecko is somewhat of an expert at avoiding predators, not only through their incredible mimicry, but through a number of behaviours. They can flatten their body to reduce their shadow, open their jaws wide to show a frightening, bright red mouth, and voluntarily shed their tail in order to trick a predator.

Habitat destruction, deforestation, and collection for the pet trade all threaten the existence of the satanic leaf-tailed gecko. The bottom two images show a newly-hatched gecko at the Houston Zoo; adults can reach up to six inches in length. (x x x x x)