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.

Uroplatus ebenaui
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Genus: Uroplatus
Species:
U. ebenaui
Binomial name
Uroplatus ebenaui
(Boettger, 1879)
Synonyms[2]
  • Uroplates ebenaui
    Boettger, 1879
  • Uroplates boettgeri
    Fischer, 1884
  • Uroplatus ebenaui
    Angel, 1942

Geographic range

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U. ebenaui is found on Nosy Bé island and in eastern and northern Madagascar,[3] at altitudes from sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft).[1]

Etymology

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The specific name, ebenaui, is in honor of German zoologist Karl Ebenau.[4]

Habitat

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U. ebenaui lives in tropical rain forests and dry deciduous forests.[citation needed]

Description

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

Behavior

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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.[3]

Reproduction

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U. ebenaui is oviparous.[2] Clutch size is two spherical eggs, which are laid on the ground.[1]

Taxonomy

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Uroplatus ebenaui may be a complex of species.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Raxworthy CJ, Ratsoavina F, Glaw F, Rabibisoa N (2011). "Uroplatus ebenaui ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T172792A6919303.en. Accessed on 23 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b Species Uroplatus ebenaui at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. ^ a b Edmonds, Devin (2002). "Spearpoint Leaf-tailed Gecko (Uroplatus ebenaui )". Amphibian Care. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  4. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Uroplatus ebenaui, p. 80).

Further reading

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  • 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. ISBN 978-3929449-01-3.
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