| Leonese rock lizard | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertoidea |
| Family: | Lacertidae |
| Genus: | Iberolacerta |
| Species: | I. galani |
| Binomial name | |
| Iberolacerta galani | |
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| Distribution of the Leonese rock lizard. | |
The Leonese rock lizard (Iberolacerta galani), also known as Galan's rock lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is indigenous to Spain.
The species I. galani is endemic to the Montes de León in northwestern Spain. [1]
Its specific name, galani, honors the Corunnan herpetologist Dr. Pedro Galán Regalado [2] for his lifelong dedication to the study of the Iberian herpetofauna and natural history in general. [3]
This species, I. galani, is characterized by its relatively large size. It is the biggest species of Iberolacerta with females reaching 84 mm (3.3 in) snout-to-vent length (SVL). It is also characterized by a high number of blue ocelli on the shoulders, and the relatively frequent contact or near-contact between the supranasal and the first loreal scale. [3]
The Leonese rock lizard inhabits rocky supraforestal (above the tree line) habitats, at 1,000–2,000 m (3,300–6,600 ft), [1] with a high-mountain climate. [3]
As a heliothermic lizard, I.galani relies on basking to regulate its body temperature.Seasonal shifts in thermal preferences have been observed in I. galani, allowing it to maintain effective thermoregulation throughout the year. [4]
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