The devil-tailed gecko is endemic to the tropical, rainy forests of northern and central Madagascar. The satanic gecko’s scientific name is Uroplatus phantasticus.

They are nicknamed “Satan demons” because of their rather strange appearance and their ability to be invisible and change color unexpectedly.

Devil geckos live in trees and come in many different colors such as purple, brown, orange, yellow… They have red eyes, however their eye color will change along with their body color to match the surrounding environment.

Devil geckos are also the smallest in size and weight among their relatives. When mature, devil geckos are only about 6.3–16cm long and weigh 35–50g.

With ridges and veins on their spines and entire bodies, they look surprisingly like a dry leaf. The ability to change color is an effective weapon that helps devil geckos carefreely rest and sunbathe on tree branches and foliage without fear of being discovered. It is also a weapon that helps them hide, camouflage, lie down, and wait for their prey to come and attack.

Devil geckos usually feed at night. Devil geckos’ favorite foods are insects such as flies, mosquitoes and moths. Although they are called devil geckos, they are quite peaceful animals. If threatened or disturbed, demon geckos often just raise their heads and open their mouths wide to say “shush, shush, shush”.

Males often use their tails as leaves to attract mates during the breeding season. Because of its extremely special shape, devil geckos have become pets for professional hobbyists.

They are currently listed by the International Fund for Nature Conservation (WWF) as the most hunted and purchased animals in the world. Deforestation and human hunting have narrowed the habitat and significantly reduced the number of devil geckos in the wild. Currently this species is strictly protected in Madagascar.