Variable color pattern and camouflage in four male velvet geckos (Amalosia lesueurii). Like many rock-dwelling reptiles, the velvet gecko hides between narrow crevices in rock layers. See my blog post on the endangered broad-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bungaroides) to read about how habitat degradation is leading to population declines of sandstone inhabitants.
All photographed after disturbance [4]
Geckos have adhesive toepads consisting of thousands of microscopic hairs called setae – each seta composed of even smaller bristles. The flexible setae and bristles allow greater surface area to come into contact with the substrate, and van der Waals forces also play a role in enhancing the toepads’ adhesive capabilities. This adaptation for clinging on to surfaces has actually evolved over ten times independently in geckos. Check out Geckskin, a synthetic adhesive modeled after gecko toepads!
