Jul 25, 2014 6:30 AM

Gallery: Absurd Creature of the Week: Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko Wears the World's Most Unbelievable Camo

Piotr Naskrecki / Corbis
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The incredible satanic leaf-tailed gecko does a spot-on impression of a leaf. "Thank you, thank you," the gecko says. "I'll be here for the three to five years of my expected lifespan."
Frank Glaw
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The satanic leaf-tailed gecko is a nocturnal species, so bring a flash. Or don't. I'm a writer, not a photographer.

Frank Glaw
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Another shot of the gecko, showing the characteristic chunks missing from its tail, which imitates a rotting leaf.
Frank Glaw
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The satanic leaf-tailed gecko gets its name from Satan, who many believe is a gecko.

Frank Glaw
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A mossy leaf-tailed gecko, a related species.
Frank Glaw
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Different kinds of leaf-tailed geckos blend into different parts of trees, from leaves to branches to trunks. This is what a leaf-tailed gecko looks like on a rock, which has and never will be part of a tree.

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