Reptiles & Amphibians

The leaf-tailed gecko is one of the largest species of the genus Uroplatus. It gets its name from its short, broad tail that looks like a leaf. Henkel’s is just one of nine species of leaf-tailed geckos found in Madagascar. Many of the island nation’s endemic species are tiny reptilian wonders like this one.

The brilliant colors and patterns of the tiny dart poison frogs aren't merely ornamental: they also warn would-be predators. If ingested, the frog's toxic skin chemicals can cause numbness, paralysis, and occasional death. Due to their symbolic exteriors, these amphibians are considered aposematic. The root of that big word? “Apo” means “away;” “sematic” means “sign.”