La Gomera Giant Lizard

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iLa Gomera Giant Lizard

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Sauria
Family:	Lacertidae
Subfamily:	Gallotiinae
Genus:	Gallotia
Species:	G. bravoana

Binomial name

Gallotia bravoana
(Hutterer, 1985)

Synonyms

Gallotia gomerana

The La Gomera Giant Lizard (in Spanish: Lagarto Gigante de la Gomera) is a species that can be found on the island of La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands (Spain).

In his scientific description, the German zoologist R. Hutterer suggested the name Gallotia simonyi gomerana for some sub-fossil remains found in the south of the island. Later it was regarded as a separate species, but following the ruling of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, the name of this species is Gallotia bravoana, not Gallotia gomerana.

The La Gomera Giant Lizard is easily distinguishable from any other species in the Canary Islands by the intense white colour that covers its neck, chest and area around the mouth, in spectacular contrast to its dark brown back. This lizard is generally diurnal and mostly herbivorous, and grows up to half a meter long. The females lay a single clutch annually of three to seven eggs on average.

1 Rediscovered
2 Conservation
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Rediscovered

Although La Gomera Giant Lizard was reported in some texts up to the 19th century, it was assumed to have become extinct at that time. Spanish biologists led by Juan Carlos Rando rediscovered this species in 1999. The biologists found only six living individuals. The current population of the La Gomera Giant Lizard consists of only 90 individuals remaining in the wild. There is a captive population of about 44 animals (in 2004). This species is now only known from two separate inaccessible cliffs 2 km apart, close to the Valle Gran Rey. The La Gomera Giant Lizard is thought to have once ranged throughout much of La Gomera and in many habitat types. Nowadays it is found in the Parque Rural de Valle Gran Rey, and the present range is less than one hectare and restricted to dry cliffs with sparse vegetation.

[edit] Conservation

The La Gomera Giant Lizard is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. The species historically declined through overgrazing, hunting, and predation by feral cats and rats. Nowadays the main threats are predation by feral cats, and rock falls within its restricted range. The species is protected by international legislation, and a species recovery plan is in place. On La Gomera, a captive breeding programme has been established in order to increase the number of individuals. To reduce the threat of feral cats there is a need to control cat populations in the vicinity of the remaining animals.

[edit] References

Miras & Pérez-Mellado (2005). Gallotia bravoana. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is critically endangered
BBC News. 2000. Scientists find 'extinct' giant lizards. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/682621.stm>. Downloaded on 18 May 2006.
Miras, J.A.M. & Pérez-Mellado, V. 2005. Gallotia bravoana. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 May 2006.
Nogales M., J.C. Rando, A. Valido & A. Martín (2001). Discovery of a living giant lizard, Genus Gallotia (Reptilia: Lacertidae), from La Gomera, Canary Islands. Herpetologica 57: 169-179.