Geckos - Nature's Masters of Disguise

Posted by Editor on 10/22/2009

We all know about chameleons being able to change colors on a whim, however did you know that some geckos (lizards found in tropical countries) can do the same?  In fact, they are so good at it, that some of their species haven't even been discovered yet!

For example, look at the picture above - If you missed the gecko that has camouflaged itself to resemble a curled-up dried leaf, you are in good company - Most people do! Called the Satanic Leaf-Tailed gecko because of its 'humps' that resemble horns and red-eyes, the reptile can be found on the islands of Madagascar, where they cleverly blend in with the rainforests.

Besides turning into beautiful autumn leaves, the Satanic leaf-tailed geckos whose normal coloring is gray or brown, can also transform their coloring to yellow, green and orange.

Native to Australia , the Northern Leaf-Tailed gecko, seen in the picture above, is named after its leaf-shaped tail, which can be regenerated,if lost. Unlike other geckos, they do not have the toe pads that 'stick'  to surfaces, which is what enables the lizards to walk upside down or sideways. Instead, they have 'clawed toes', which assist them to climb on rough surfaces. These geckos can also turn to several shades of green or yellow, depending on the environment they are trying to blend in.

Though there are over 2,000 species of geckos in the world, not all can change color. These largely nocturnal creatures spend their days blended perfectly to the branches of trees they laze on. With their large eyes, big mouth and awesome disguises, geckos are very good at catching prey - sometimes larger then the lizards themselves.

While gecko's are like chameleons, in that they can change color, they do it for different reasons. Geckos try to blend in, not only to avoid predators, but also, to catch prey. Chameleons do it to communicate or convey emotions and result in becoming even more conspicuous. The color change occurs when cells with different color pigments beneath the lizard's transparent skin expands or contracts. If only we humans could do that!

In case you haven't noticed, each and every picture above has a gecko in it - Were you able to spot them all? If so, be sure to let us know by, adding your comments below.

sources:wikipedia,lakeachaam.com, dailymail.co.uk

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  1. yyiti t7xu about 3 hours later:
    uitukut
  2. supersrat100 about 18 hours later:
    this is so asome some people can not see it
  3. Araniece about 19 hours later:
    WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS SO AWSOME I CAN'T BELEVIE IT IS SO I SAW HOW THEY BLEND ON PICTURE 4 I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING UNTIL I SEEN THE LEG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD I LIKE ALL THE PICTURES B UT I THINK THE BEST ONE IS PICTURE NUMBER 4!*!*!*!*!*!*
  4. cool 2 days later:
    We are doing a camouflage unit in school. its so cool trying to find the animals hiding in their surroundings
  5. waleed ki biwi 2 days later:
    coool
  6. Ernie 3 days later:
    Wow that is really awesome! :D
  7. ZUBBIEEEE!!!! 3 days later:
    WOW I AREE ERNIE!!!! see ya in a minute!
  8. fifi 4 days later:
    geckos
  9. Hi 5 days later:
    lol
  10. IlikePIE 7 days later:
    cool we saw one in school
  11. cool 9 days later:
    i spotted them all
  12. nooooo oooooooonnee 11 days later:
    camouflage is best than getting invisible
  13. nooooo oooooooonnee 11 days later:
    the leaf one is the best
  14. cindy 11 days later:
    er du katel waesi supper :)
  15. notin 13 days later:
    COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
  16. notin 13 days later:
    That is so awsome man i wish i could blend in likethat
  17. lil 15 days later:
    o my yhat is cool
  18. Ally 21 days later:
    Look at his eyes
  19. step▌♣!!!♥♠◙╢ about 1 month later:
    this wed rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  20. ratickle about 1 month later:
    narly fied man
  21. ratickle about 1 month later:
    omg the pictre with lizards eyes popping out is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo freaky dudes!!!!!!
  22. ratickle about 1 month later:
    I love it
  23. ratickle about 1 month later:
    narly marley
  24. ratickle about 1 month later:
    awesome dude
  25. ratickle about 1 month later:
    yalllllllllllllll from lilly HM get it
  26. jake 3 months later:
    This is cool so cool that i jake go crazy!!!!!1
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