Aug 8, 2009

Satanic Bonding

Photo credit to Piotr Naskrecki via TYWKIWDBI
This little leaf tailed gecko is unique to Madagascar. It's known sometimes as the fantastic leaf tailed gecko or the eyelash leaf tailed gecko. 'Fantastic' because it's almost too hard to believe such a creature could exist, 'eyelash' because it sports camouflaging eyelashes, and 'leaf tailed' because its tail resembles a decaying leaf.

However, Uroplatus phantasticus is most commonly known as the Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko: 'satanic' because of its association with the Prince of Darkness.

Geckos such as this one may hold the key to the technology that will allow us to be able to walk on walls and ceilings. They don't do with with tiny barbed hairs or sticky pads. Rather, their feet are equipped with about a billion of points of contact that allow them to bond on a molecular level with the surface they are climbing.

Thanks for the gecko, Menolly42.

8 comments:

niner said...

CUUUUUUUTE! I remember seeing that show about the gecko technology; very fascinating indeed!

zoom said...

Always wanted to know what a Two eyed, two horned, climbing purple satanic people eater looked like

Tracy from Oz said...

It's so cute! I want one.

Jack Ruttan said...

Been said before, but he's a pokemon. Do people even remember that, now?

Oh great. Now here's a horrible word below I have to type.

The Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls said...

i think this creature is beautiful. He does have that look in his eye like he is plotting to take over the world, though.

Unknown said...

"'satanic' because of its association with the Prince of Darkness" jajajajaj, that comment is all kinds of awesome! LOL

Anonymous said...

A billion points of molecular-bonding contact, or witchcraft?

I finally have an answer to a question that's been bugging more for a while, though. A book I read several months ago mentioned the "fantastic lizard" without giving a scientific name or the fact that it was a gecko.

Raging Wombat said...

Glad I could help, anonymous. Keep coming back!