Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got this girl today, I've done as much research as I possibly could, but I can't find how to really tell the difference between the henkeli or the sikorae?? To me, it looks more like a sikorae because they seem to have more of a mossy look to them that I have seen. It was sold to me as a henkeli, but I'm not sure how much the people really know about these. It's about 4.5 inches svl and about 7.5 with the tail, she also weighs 22 grams. Heres some pics.... Either way she is the coolest thing I've like ever seen! What do you guys think? Either way, do you think $120 is an ok deal for this girl?

And if you know which it is, why is it that and not the other???
-----
1.0 savannah monitor
0.4 leopard geckos
2.2.5 crested geckos 2 eggs
0.1 common boas (BCI)
1.0 ball python
0.0.1 western hognose
0.1 kenyan sand boa
0.0.1 golden tree frog
0.0.1 fire belly toad
0.0.1 Sulcata tortoise
0.0.1 desert hairy scorpion
0.0.1 texas millipede
1.2 sugar gliders 2 joeys in pouch
0.1 chinchilla
2.0 cats
0.0.1 African Giant Black Millipede
0.0.1 Pac Man frog
10 gallon freshwater
LOTS of roaches

Matt Smith
Exotic-Adventure

I think you are right. It does look like sikorae to me as well, but I'm new to leaf tails as well so I could be wrong. To my knowledge, henkeli are larger and I've never seen one with green patches. Either way, you have a great-looking gecko there, and well worth it!
-----
Roy Blodgett

1.1 Drymarchon corais
0.1 Coluber mormon
1.1 Lampropeltis getula californiae (desert phase)
1.0 Boiga dendrophila dendrophila
0.1 Candoia aspera (red phase)
0.1 Uroplatus henkeli
0.1 Corytophanes cristatus
2.1 Pogona vitticeps (snow and red/gold)
1.0 Iguana iguana

Alot of people are saying that sikoraes have a yellow ring around their eyes and she doesn't.... Is it only with some sikoraes or is it with all of them? I'm still getting about half and half with sikoraes and henkelis. People keep telling me it's definately one and others are 100% sure it's the other. Here's some pics of the sides of her head, as close as I could get.

Generally, henkeli have a very prominent frill along the edges of the underside of their bodies. This helps aid in breaking up their outline and camoflauging them. In the photos the frill on your gecko seems to very small, far less than that of my henkeli; which leads me to believe you have sikorae. Again, I'm not definite but if I had to choose I would say sikorae.
-----
Roy Blodgett

1.1 Drymarchon corais
0.1 Coluber mormon
1.1 Lampropeltis getula californiae (desert phase)
1.0 Boiga dendrophila dendrophila
0.1 Candoia aspera (red phase)
0.1 Uroplatus henkeli
0.1 Corytophanes cristatus
2.1 Pogona vitticeps (snow and red/gold)
1.0 Iguana iguana

Roy both U. henkeli and U. sikorae have the 'frill' along the entire body. Depending on the health of the animal, and the activity time, humidity, etc. the dermal flap may or may not be more or less noticeable.
Here's a dermal flap on a U. sikorae, and in fact, I find that my U. sikorae have more pronounced dermal flaps most of the time than the U. henkeli ( which tends to tuck under more)

Andrew Gilpin

Like I said, I'm new to leaf tails and I made that clear. Upon more fervent research I did see that sikorae also has the dermal flap. The distinguishing characteristic that led me to believe it was sikorae was the pattern and coloration. Thanks for clearing that up.
By the way, your photographs ar excellent and they show that your animals are the picture of health! Keep up the good work!
-----
Roy Blodgett

1.1 Drymarchon corais
0.1 Coluber mormon
1.1 Lampropeltis getula californiae (desert phase)
1.0 Boiga dendrophila dendrophila
0.1 Candoia aspera (red phase)
0.1 Uroplatus henkeli
0.1 Corytophanes cristatus
2.1 Pogona vitticeps (snow and red/gold)
1.0 Iguana iguana

Thanks Roy, the photography 'department' is constantly improving at our house.... Should have a new flash set up coming in tomorrow, can't wait....
Here's a photo of one of our 4 mo. old U. henkeli males

and a U. phantasticus female that my wife Sarah shot the other day...

Andrew

Again, awesome photos! That is a great looking little henkeli! Good luck with the new flash. Hopefully, I'll get around to taking some photos of my henkeli soon!
-----
Roy Blodgett

1.1 Drymarchon corais
0.1 Coluber mormon
1.1 Lampropeltis getula californiae (desert phase)
1.0 Boiga dendrophila dendrophila
0.1 Candoia aspera (red phase)
0.1 Uroplatus henkeli
0.1 Corytophanes cristatus
2.1 Pogona vitticeps (snow and red/gold)
1.0 Iguana iguana

“All men lie enveloped in whale-lines. All are born with halters round their necks; but it is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death, that mortals realize the silent, subtle, ever-present perils of life.”- Herman Melville

the legnth of the tail makes me think henkels but i have a female sikorae sameiti with a regenerated tail, so im not sure how long her tail would be. my sameiti is longer bodied then my other mossies were. plus the proportions and legnth of her hind legs and her toes on her hind feet make me say sameiti, so do the eyes. ill try to tag a pic of her up here.

here she is

Yeah, she looks alot like her... I'm pretty sure shes a sikorae now. I went down to the Hamburg, PA show last weekend and saw a few henkelis, and they really look alot more different than I thought.
Thanks alot
-----
1.0 savannah monitor
0.4 leopard geckos
2.2.5 crested geckos 4 eggs
1.0 Rhacodactylus Chahoua
0.1 Mossy Leaftail
0.1 common boas (BCI)
1.0 ball python
0.0.1 western hognose
0.1 kenyan sand boa
0.0.1 golden tree frog
0.0.1 fire belly toad
0.0.1 Sulcata tortoise
0.0.1 desert hairy scorpion
0.0.1 texas millipede
1.2 sugar gliders 2 joeys
0.1 chinchilla
2.0 cats
0.0.1 African Giant Black Millipede
0.0.1 Pac Man frog
10 gallon freshwater
LOTS of roaches

Matt Smith
Exotic-Adventure

hey check inside her mouth to see if you see any black. the subspecies U.sikorae sameiti has no black inside of her mouth while the U.sikorae sikorae does. when you have her out, say on your right hand, grab her firmly(dont squeeze her but pin her shoulders back with your left thumb and index finger) and maybe tap the side of her mouth. she should open her mouth nice and wide for you, but dont get bitten. its kinda stressful to them so dont do it for a long period of time.

I'm 100% sure its a U.sikorae. Here is a picture of a U.henkeli showing his eye.
Tim