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Uroplatus fimbriatus (SCHNEIDER, 1797)

IUCN Red List - Uroplatus fimbriatus - Least Concern, LC
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Higher TaxaGekkonidae, Gekkota, Sauria, Squamata (lizards: geckos)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Common Flat-tail Gecko
G: Plattschwanzgecko 
SynonymCordylus Caudiuerbera — MEYER 1795: 18
Stellio fimbriatus SCHNEIDER 1797: 32
? Stellio tetradactylus SCHNEIDER 1797 (fide BOULENGER 1885)
? Gecko sarroubea DAUDIN 1802: 176 (fide BOULENGER 1885)
Gecko caudiverbera — MERREM 1820 (see note)
Rhacoessa hypoxantha WAGLER 1833 (nom. subst.)
Chiroperus sarrube WIEGMANN 1834: 20 (nom. subst. pro G. tetradactylus)
Ptyodactylus fimbriatus — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1836: 381
Ptyodactylus Feuillaei — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1836: 386 (?)
Uroplates fimbriatus — BOULENGER 1885: 237
Uroplates fimbriatus lichenius ROTHSCHILD 1903 (fide ANGEL 1942)
Uroplatus fimbriatus — ANGEL 1942: 12
Uroplatus fimbriatus — WERMUTH 1965: 186
Uroplatus fimbriatus — KLUGE 1993
Uroplatus fimbriatus — GLAW & VENCES 1994: 270
Uroplatus aff. fimbriatus — GEHRING & KUBIK 2005 
DistributionN/C Madagascar, Nossi Be = Nosy Bé (?), Mangabe, Saint Marie

Type locality: Madagascar.  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesNeotype: ZFMK 36503, designated by BAUER & RUSSELL. 1989. 
DiagnosisDiagnosis (genus): Uroplatus species are large to immense geckos, ranging from about 68–190 mm in adult maximum SVL. The build is medium, with fairly slender limbs and a somewhat depressed body form and a large, triangular, depressed head. As in all gekkonids, eyelids do not function. Uroplatus species are generally extremely cryptic in coloration, usually gray or brown with various pattern elements which may resemble lichens or bark. Uroplatus can be distinguished from other geckos by the following combination of characteristics: hyoid without second ceratobranchial cartilages; 15 scleral ossicles; stapedial foramen absent; frontal single; parietal paired; cloacal bones present; phalangeal formula 2-3-4-5-3/2-3-4-5-4 (manus/pes); Uroplatus-type paraphalangeal elements present; eye with vertical pupil having notched margins; digits free, dilated, bearing fan-like, divided adhesive lamellae; claws present, housed in sheath; dorsal scalation consists of small, juxtaposed granules or tubercles; preanal pores absent; cutaneous flaps or fringes present on margins of jaw, body, limbs, and tail; tail depressed, short, leaf-shaped; females lay two hard-shelled eggs (Kluge 1967, Russell and Bauer 2008, Bauer and Russell 1989). 
CommentKluge 1993 gives the author as SCHNEIDER 1792.

Distribution: Not listed for Nossi Be by ANDREONE et al. 2003. One of the biggest geckos (reaching 300 mm or more).

Illustrations: GLAW et al. (2006) reproduced the plate from WAGLER 1833 (Rhacoessa hypoxantha) and the plate from ROTHSCHILD 1903 (Uroplates fimbriatus lichenius).

Type species: Stellio fimbriatus SCHNEIDER 1797 is the type species of the genus Uroplatus DUMÉRIL 1805 (Zool. analyt., p. 80, fide WERMUTH 1965).

BOULENGER (1885: 236) mentions a gecko that appears to be “mythical”. He gives its synonymy as follows (with years added here):
Lacerta caudiverbera LINNAEUS 1758: 359
Caudiverbera peruviana — LAURENTI 1768, Syst. Amph.: 43, GRAY Cat: 152
Gecko cristatus — DAUDIN 1802, Rept. iv: 167
Gecko caudiverbera — MERREM 1820: 40
Ptyodactylus feuillaei — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1836: 386
Oiacurus feuillaei — FITZINGER 1843: 97

Reference images: see Uetz et al. 2024 for high-resolution reference images for this species. 
EtymologyNamed after Latin fimbriatus for "fringed" based upon the gecko's unique appearance of fringed skin. 
References
  • ANDREONE F., F. GLAW, R. A. NUSSBAUM, C. J. RAXWORTHY, M. VENCES, and J. E. RANDRIANIRINA 2003. The amphibians and reptiles of Nosy Be (NW Madagascar) and nearby islands: a case study of diversity and conservation of an insular fauna. Journal of Natural History 37 (17): 2119–2149 - get paper here
  • Andreone F., Randrianirina J., Jenkins P.D. & Aprea G. 2000. Species diversity of Amphibia, Reptilia and Lipotyphla (Mammalia) at Ambolokopatrika, a rainforest between the Anjanaharibe-Sud and Marojejy massifs, NE Madagascar. Biodiversity and Conservation 9: 1587–1622 - get paper here
  • Angel, F. 1942. Les Lézards de Madagascar. Mem. Acad. Malagache, Tananarive XXXVI: 193 pp.
  • Baert, Peter 2015. Tagebuch einer Reise in den Osten Madagaskars. Zu Besuch im Marojejy-Nationalpark und im Naturschutzgebiet Betampona. Terraria-Elaphe 2015 (5): 46-52 - get paper here
  • Barbour, Thomas 1918. Vertebrata from Madagascar. 2. Amphibia and Reptilia. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard 61 (14): 479-489. - get paper here
  • Bauer, A. M. and A. P. Russell 1989. A systematic review of the genus Uroplatus (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) with notes on its biology. Journal of Natural History 23:169-203 - get paper here
  • Berghof, H.-P. 2004. Unterwegs im “Reserve Speziale” von Ankarana. [Madagascar]. Draco 5 (19): 44-49 - get paper here
  • Böhme, W., and P. Ibisch. 1990. Studien an Uroplatus. l. Der Uroplatus fimbriatus-Komplex. Salamandra 26: 246-259 - get paper here
  • Böhme, Wolfgang 2014. Herpetology in Bonn. Mertensiella 21. vi + 256 pp. - get paper here
  • Boulenger, G.A. 1885. Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) I. Geckonidae, Eublepharidae, Uroplatidae, Pygopodidae, Agamidae. London: 450 pp. - get paper here
  • Cunningham, O. K. & Allain, S. J. R. 2019. First Record of Intraspecific Oophagy in the Common Leaf-Tailed Gecko Uroplatus fimbriatus (Schneider, 1797). Captive & Field Herpetology 3 (1): 19-21 - get paper here
  • Daudin, F. M. 1802. Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière des Reptiles, Vol. 4. F. Dufart, Paris, 397 pp. - get paper here
  • Duméril, A.M. C. and G. Bibron. 1836. Erpetologie Générale ou Histoire Naturelle Complete des Reptiles. Vol. 3. Libr. Encyclopédique Roret, Paris, 528 pp. - get paper here
  • Furrer, S. 2013. Erfahrungen mit der Haltung von Plattschwanzgeckos (Uroplatus fimbriatus) im Masoala-Regenwald. Draco 13 (52): 72-77 - get paper here
  • Gehring, P.-S., F. M. Ratsoavina & M. Vences 2010. Filling the gaps – amphibian and reptile records from lowland rainforests in eastern Madagascar. Salamandra 46 (4): 214-234 - get paper here
  • Gehring, P.-S., S. Siarabi, M. D. Scherz, F. M. Ratsoavina, A. Rakotoarison, F. Glaw & M. Vences 2018. Genetic differentiation and species status of the large-bodied leaf-tailed geckos Uroplatus fimbriatus and U. giganteus. Salamandra 54 (2): 132-146 - get paper here
  • Gehring, P.S. 2010. Fady, Tavy und Aye-Aye - unterwegs im Nordosten Madagaskars. Elaphe 18 (2): 62-71
  • Gehring, P.S. 2013. Seelenräuber mit Haftlamellen - Madagassische Plattschwanzgeckos der Gattung Uroplatus. Draco 13 (52): 4-17 - get paper here
  • Gehring, P.S. & Kubik, A.L. 2005. Herpetologische Beobachtungen aus Madagaskar. Elaphe 13 (3): 60-66
  • Gehring, P.S. & Schönecker, P. 2013. Auf der Suche nach Plattschwanzgeckos in Madagaskar. Draco 13 (52): 18-33 - get paper here
  • Gehring, Phillip-Sebastian 2020. Leaf-tailed Geckos – The Complete Uroplatus. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (www.chimaira.de). 383 pp., ISBN: 978-3-89973-349-5 [review in HR 53 (1): 171]
  • Glaw ,F. & Vences, M. 1994. A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Vences & Glaw Verlag, Köln (ISBN 3-929449-01-3)
  • Glaw, F., Kosuch, J.; Henkel, F.W.; Sound, P. & Böhme, W. 2006. Genetic and morphological variation of the leaf-tailed gecko Uroplatus fimbriatus from Madagascar, with description of a new giant species. Salamandra 42 (2-3): 129-144 - get paper here
  • Graf, R.; Bauer, M. & Furrer, S. 2003. Die neue Masoala-Halle im Zoo Zürich. Draco 4 (15): 84-90 - get paper here
  • GREENBAUM, Eli; AARON M. BAUER, TODD R. JACKMAN, MIGUEL VENCES & FRANK GLAW 2007. A phylogeny of the enigmatic Madagascan geckos of the genus Uroplatus (Squamata: Gekkonidae). Zootaxa 1493: 41-51 - get paper here
  • Henkel, F.W. 1992. Uroplatus fimbriatus (SCHNEIDER, 1797). Sauria 14 Suppl.: 229–232 - get paper here
  • Herrmann, H.-J. 1986. Schweben und Gleiten bei Amphibien und Reptilien. Sauria 8 (1): 13-17 - get paper here
  • Krapp, Franz 1993. Observations on the leaf-tailed gecko, Uroplatus fimbriatus. Dactylus 2 (1): 5-11
  • Meier, H. 1984. Sind Nachzuchterfolge bei Uroplatus fimbriatus (SCHNEIDER 1797) möglich? Herpetofauna 6 (33): 20-27 - get paper here
  • Meier, H. 1991. Uroplatus fimbriatus. Jour. Int. Gecko Soc. 1 (1): 13-16
  • Meyer, F.A.A. 1795. Synopsis Reptilium, novam ipsorum sistens generum methodum, nec non Gottingensium huius ordinis animalium enumerationem. Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, Göttingen, 32 pp [for current names see Rösler & Böhme 2021] - get paper here
  • Prötzel, D. & J. Forster 2017. Masoala – Ein herpetologischer Reisebericht von den letzten Tieflandregenwäldern Madagaskars. Reptilia (Münster) 22 (127): 72-79 - get paper here
  • Ratsoavina, F. M., N. R. Raminosoa, E. E. Louis Jr., A. P. Raselimanana, F. Glaw & M. Vences 2013. An overview of Madagascar’s leaf tailed geckos (genus Uroplatus): species boundaries, candidate species and review of geographical distribution based on molecular data. Salamandra 49 (3): 115-148 - get paper here
  • Ratsoavina, R. & Gehring, P.S. 2013. Naturschätze Madagaskars: Plattschwanzgeckos und ihr Schutz. Draco 13 (52): 65-71 - get paper here
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  • Rösler, Herbert & Wolfgang Böhme 2021. Das Leben von Friedrich Albrecht Anton Meyer (1768 – 1795) und die Herpetologie in seinen Schriften, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der „Synopsis Reptilium“. Sekretär 21: 83-129
  • Rothschild, W. 1903. Note on Uroplates fimbriatus lichenius subspec. nov. Novitates Zoologicae (Tring) 10: 490 - get paper here
  • Russell, A. P. and A. M. Bauer 1988. An early description of a member of the genus Phelsuma (Reptilia: Gekkonidae), with comments on names erroneously applied to Uroplatus fimbriatus. Amphibia-Reptilia 9:107-116. - get paper here
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