Animals That Are Masters of Camouflage

Leaf-Tail Gecko

• Class: Reptiles
• Order: Scaled reptiles
• Family: Geckos
• Habitat: Madagascar
• Camouflage: Mimesis

Can you see the leaf-tail gecko? It’s especially hard in the second photo: is the head at the top or bottom? It’s at the bottom (you can see one of its eyes). The leaf-tail gecko is actually known for its leaf-shaped tail, and that’s where it gets its name. Its ability to melt into the background is breathtaking.

Some leaf-tail geckos have a kind of skin flap at the side of their bodies. They can place this on the bark of a tree almost seamlessly, so that their body doesn’t even cast a shadow. With camouflage like that, you can sleep all day long.

Trick: Disguises itself as tree bark

Leaf-Tail Gecko - Photo: Hugh Lansdown/Shutterstock

Leaf-Tail Gecko - Photo: Cathy Keifer/Shutterstock

• Table of Contents:
• 0. Introduction
• 1. Denise's Pygmy Seahorse
• 2. Leaf-Tail Gecko
• 3. Indian Oakleaf
• 4. Carpet Flathead
• 5. Eastern Screech Owl
• 6. Mossy Frog
• 7. Ambon Scorpionfish
• 8. Common Baron
• 9. Mimic Octopus
• 10. Stick Insect
• 11. Tobacco Hornworm
• 12. Wolf Spider