La Gomera giant lizard

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La Gomera giant lizard
Gallotia bravoana.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Gallotia
Species:
G. bravoana
Binomial name
Gallotia bravoana
(Hutterer, 1985)
Synonyms
  • Gallotia gomerana
    (Hutterer, 1985)[ verification needed ]
  • Galliota gomerona(lapsus)
  • Gallotia simonyi bravoana
    (Hutterer, 1985)
  • Gallotia simonyi gomerana
    (Hutterer, 1985)

The La Gomera giant lizard (Gallotia bravoana) is a lacertid (wall lizard) species that can be found on the island of La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands.

Contents

It is easily distinguishable from any other member of Gallotia 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 metre long (head and body long). [2] [3] The females lay a single clutch annually of three to seven eggs on average. Its population trend has actually been increasing since 2001.

Status and conservation

Apparent La Gomera giant lizards are listed in reports on La Gomera up to the 19th century, [4] but not thereafter. The species was originally described from subfossil remains in 1985, [5] presumably having gone extinct by then. Spanish biologists led by Juan Carlos Rando rediscovered this species in 1999. [6] The biologists found only six living individuals. [7]

The current population of the La Gomera giant lizard consists of (2004) 90 individuals remaining in the wild, and a captive stock of about 44 animals. 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 is restricted to dry cliffs with sparse vegetation.

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 ensure the survival of the remaining populations and facilitate eventual reintroductions, the feral cat population around the species' range will need to be controlled. [1]

Taxonomy and systematics

In his scientific description, the German zoologist R. Hutterer referred the subfossil remains from La Gomera to two subspecies of Gallotia simonyi with the differences being size related. He named these Gallotia simonyi bravoana and Gallotia simonyi gomerana. Bischoff (1998) synonymized them to a single taxon. [8]

Barbadillo et al. (1999) decided for bravoana when they elevated the taxon to species rank. [9] Nogales et al. (2001) concurred as regards species status, but used Gallotia gomerana. [6] Following the ruling of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, [10] gomerana is a junior synonym or bravoana. [1] It is not unequivocally accepted that it does constitute a distinct species; however, [11] in all likelihood, G. simonyi is its closest living relative. [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Gallotia</i> Genus of lizards

The genus Gallotia are the lacertids of the Canary Islands. This genus consists of a group that has been evolving there ever since the first islands emerged from the sea over 20 million years ago. The endemic species and subspecies of this group have a number of characteristics that make them quite special within their family (Lacertidae); their only close relatives are the sandrunner lizards (Psammodromus) of the western Mediterranean region. Gallotia are characteristic for eating significant quantities of plants, and for several lineages having evolved insular gigantism.

<i>Nucras</i> Genus of lizards

Nucras is a genus of African lacertid lizards, commonly called sandveld lizards.

Garajonay National Park

Garajonay National Park is located in the center and north of the island of La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands (Spain). It was declared a national park in 1981 and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. It occupies 40 km2 and it extends into each of the six municipalities on the island.

El Hierro giant lizard Subspecies of lizard

The El Hierro giant lizard is a subspecies of lacertid that can be found on the island of El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands. It is considered to be a subspecies of Gallotia simonyi, Simony's lizard. The subspecies was once present throughout much of the island and on the small offshore Roque Chico de Salmor, but is now confined to a few small areas of cliff with sparse vegetation. It is currently restricted to the southern end of the Risco de Tibataje in Fuga de Gorreta, located between Guinea and the so-called Paso del Pino. The species was also successfully reintroduced to the Roque Chico de Salmor in 1999, and subsequent reintroductions have taken place at Julan and at la Dehesa.(Miras & Pérez-Mellado 2005b)

<i>Takydromus khasiensis</i> Species of lizard

Takydromus khasiensis is a species of lizard. It is found in Northeast India, adjacent Myanmar (=Burma), and northern part of Bangladesh. The type locality is the Khasi Hills.

<i>Takydromus sexlineatus</i> Species of lizard

Takydromus sexlineatus, the Asian grass lizard, six-striped long-tailed grass lizard, or long-tailed grass lizard, is an arboreal, diurnal species of lizard. The tail length is usually over three times the body length in this species.

<i>Timon princeps</i> Species of lizard

Timon princeps, commonly called the Siirt lizard or the Zagrosian lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Western Asia.

The La Palma giant lizard is a giant lacertid historically living on the island of La Palma ; its habitat ranged from sea level up to altitudes of 800 m.

<i>Gallotia simonyi</i> Species of lizard

Gallotia simonyi, also known as Simony's lizard, is a species of lacertid that was found on many of the Canary Islands. The species was once present throughout much of the islands, but one of the two subspecies is extinct, while the other, the Roque Chico de Salmor giant lizard is now confined to a few small areas of cliff with sparse vegetation. It is currently restricted to the southern end of the Risco de Tibataje in la Fuga de Gorreta, located between Guinea and the so-called Paso del Pino. The species was also successfully reintroduced to the Roque Chico de Salmor in 1999, and subsequent reintroductions have taken place at Julan and at la Dehesa.(Miras & Pérez-Mellado 2005b)

Roque Chico de Salmor giant lizard Extinct subspecies of lizard

The Roque Chico de Salmor giant lizard was the nominate subspecies of the lacertid Gallotia simonyi. It was once present on a small islet near El Hierro in the Canary Islands.

Tenerife speckled lizard Species of lizard

The Tenerife speckled lizard is a recently discovered lacertid endemic to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. It is the smallest member of the clade containing the western islands' giant species.

Boettgers lizard Species of lizard

Boettger's lizard is a lacertid endemic to two of the western Canary Islands, El Hierro and La Gomera. On the neighboring islands Tenerife and La Palma it is replaced by its close relative Gallotia galloti. It has been introduced by humans on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

<i>Gallotia galloti</i> Species of lizard

Gallotia galloti is a species of lacertid in the genus Gallotia. The species is found on the Canary Islands of Tenerife and La Palma.

<i>Chalcides simonyi</i> Species of lizard

The Fuerteventura skink is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae, a family in the infraorder Scincomorpha.

Boettgers wall gecko Species of lizard

The Boettger's wall gecko, also commonly known as the Gran Canaria gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Canary Islands.

Gomero wall gecko Species of lizard

The Gomero wall gecko or La Gomera gecko, also known as perenquén in the Canary Islands, is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. It is endemic to La Gomera.

Gran Canaria giant lizard Species of lizard

The Gran Canaria giant lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is found in the Canary Islands.

<i>Gallotia goliath</i> Extinct species of lizard

Gallotia goliath is an extinct giant lizard species from the island of Tenerife of the Canary Islands, Spain. This reptile lived before the arrival of humans and is believed to have grown to at least 0.9 metres (3.0 ft) long. It was described by the German herpetologist Robert Mertens. Fossils of this lizard have been found in volcanic caves, where they often appear with those of other animals, like the Tenerife giant rat.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mateo Miras, Jose Antonio et al. (2009). Gallotia bravoana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2.
  2. ↑ "The giant lizard of La Gomera: one of the most endangered reptiles in the world!". jardin tecina. 30 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Salvador, Alfredo (24 May 2007). "Lagarto gigante de La Gomera - Gallotia bravoana Hutterer, 1985". vertebrados ibéricos.org.
  4. ↑ Jiménez Pérez, I. y M. Delibes de Castro (2005). "Al borde de la extinciónUna v isión integral de la recuperación de fauna amenazada en España" (PDF). sehumed.org.
  5. ↑ Hutterer, R. (1985): Neue Funde von Rieseneidechsen (Lacertidae) auf der Insel Gomera. Bonner zoologische Beiträge36(3/4): 365–394.
  6. 1 2 Nogales, M. (2001). "Discovery of a living giant lizard, Genus Gallotia (Reptilia: Lacertidae), from La Gomera, Canary Islands". Herpetologica. 57 (2): 169–179. JSTOR   3893181.
  7. ↑ BBC News (21 March 2000): Scientists find 'extinct' giant lizards.
  8. ↑ Bischoff, Wolfgang (1998): Bemerkungen zu den "fossilen" Rieseneidechsen der Kanarischen Inseln. In: Bischoff, Wolfgang (ed.): Handbuch der Reptilien und Amphibien Europas6 (Die Reptilien der Kanarischen Inseln, der Selvagens-Inseln und des Madeira-Archipels): 387–407. Aula-Verlag, Wiesbaden.
  9. ↑ Barbadillo, L.J., Lacomba, J.I.; Pérez-Mellado, V.; Sancho, V. & López-Jurado, L.F. (1999): Anfibios y Reptiles de la Península Ibérica, Baleares y Canarias. Editorial Planeta, Barcelona.
  10. ↑ "Gallotia bravoana HUTTERER, 1985". The Reptile Database.
  11. ↑ Bischoff, Wolfgang (2000): DGHT-AG Lacertiden aktuell: Rieseneidechsen auf La Gomera Archived 2006-10-07 at the Wayback Machine . Version of 2000-MAY-23. Retrieved 2007-FEB-25.
  12. ↑ Maca-Meyer, N.; Carranza, S.; Rando, J. C.; Arnold, E. N.; Cabrera, V. M. (2003). "Status and relationships of the extinct giant Canary Island lizard Gallotia goliath (Reptilia: Lacertidae), assessed using ancient mtDNA from its mummified remains" (PDF). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 80 (4): 659. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2003.00265.x .

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/61502/12493034#population

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