Camouflage... and de-cloak

Gallery: WildlifePosted February 19, 2012206 views9 comments

FInd the Leaf-tailed gecko! These animals have such an amazing camouflage. All its bodyparts are flat and serrated on the edges, so it blends completely in with the tree trunk.
This image is made in Madagascar, our guide had to point this Gecko out for some time before we even noticed it.

D300, Nikkor18-200@82mm,1/80, F8.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on February 19, 2012 at 12:05 PM

I give up.

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on February 19, 2012 at 12:11 PM

I could not believe my uncertainty, so "Googled" leaf-tail gecko images, and am even more amazed at this geckos camo. Stupefying! I can see the feet in this image and believe I see the head, but wouldn't want to have to bet which end is up and which is down! This makes for a really fun posting.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on February 19, 2012 at 12:17 PM

Hey Ellen,

Very cool post - have to remember that trick when I'm low on images for the wildlife gallery - just post a shot of bark and tell them to find the...

I THINK I see the legs, and I THINK I see an eye, but could be more my imagination than anything (reminds me of dreaming up seeing things through a microscope when I took microbiology in university!!).

Very cool - thanks for posting this...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on February 19, 2012 at 12:50 PM

Ellen, this is awesome, I had to open the larger version to even properly see the gecko! This must be one of the best camouflage images I have ever seen!

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on February 19, 2012 at 3:39 PM

Amazing camo

The short flat tails and those little appendages on its chin make perfect sense here. The corners are a little soft may be a DOF issue or just the lens being soft.

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Ellen deBoer on February 19, 2012 at 5:49 PM

Here is the answer to the puzzle! The Gecko got a bit disturbed by our presence and woke up (they are nocturnal). After we backed up, it went quickly to its flat status again.

Registered on March 16, 2006, 419 Posts, 2076 Comments

Comment posted by John Kerr on February 19, 2012 at 10:21 PM

That's impressive Ellen. I wasn't sure where it was until your re-post. Good eye and thanks for sharing.

Registered on October 28, 2009, 111 Posts, 1070 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on February 20, 2012 at 4:31 PM

The re-post is equally dramatic, because the camo is still good, but one can be sure of what is what! Thanks again!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on February 20, 2012 at 10:19 PM

Love it! I did see the gecko right away but then I have quite a fondness for these animals and know what to look for. Not sure I would have seen it in the wild though. Very cool.

Still hoping for Day Gecko pictures.

Clinton

Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments