Is it a leaf? Is it tree bark? No, it’s the Satanic leaf-tailed gecko. Cleverly disguised as a rotting leaf, Madagascar’s camouflage king has red eyes, pointy horns and a taste for night hunting: it’s nature’s most devilish deceiver. The twisted body and veiny skin echo the detail of a dry leaf, which ensures the gecko blends in with its forest home. The mottled tail appears to have sections missing, as though it has withered over time. This mini-monster epitomises survival of the fittest, having adapted gradually to become today’s extraordinary leaf impersonator. (Photo by Thomas Marent/ARDEA)

A thirsty timber wolf, Lithuania, 2018. (Photo by Erikas Plucas/Alamy Stock Photo)

Models present creations during the Richard Quinn catwalk show during London Fashion Week in London, Britain on February 18, 2023. (Photo by Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

A dog waits as his companion fills out their ballot at Eastern Market in Washington, DC, on November 5, 2024. (Photo by Allison Robbert for The Washington Post)

Miley Cyrus attends the 82nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., January 5, 2025. (Photo by Daniel Cole/Reuters)

Performers from “New Baby Junior Dance Crew” take part in a parade on the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Snake, in Hong Kong on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Lam Yik/Reuters)

An arctic fox in Iceland spotted on March 19, 2025 by Marc Freebrey, a marketing officer from Gloucestershire. (Photo by Marc Freebrey/South West News Service)

Model Brooks Nader attends Charity Day 2025 Hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund at BGC Group on September 11, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald)