La Gomera giant lizard

La Gomera giant lizard
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
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)[2]
  • 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.

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).[3][4] The females lay a single clutch annually of three to seven eggs on average. Its population trend has actually been increasing since 2001.

  1. ^ Bowles, P. (2024). "Gallotia bravoana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024: e.T61502A137850527.
  2. ^ Martín, Aurelio; Rando, Juan Carlos (2006). "On the scientific name of the extant Giant Lizard of La Gomera (Canary Islands): Gallotia gomerana Hutterer, 1985 vs. G. bravoana Hutterer, 1985 (Reptilia: Lacertidae)". Vieraea Folia scientiarum biologicarum canariensium. 34 (Vieraea 34): 65–70. doi:10.31939/vieraea.2006.34.09. ISSN 0210-945X.
  3. ^ "The giant lizard of La Gomera: one of the most endangered reptiles in the world!". jardin tecina. 30 April 2016.
  4. ^ Salvador, Alfredo (24 May 2007). "Lagarto gigante de La Gomera - Gallotia bravoana Hutterer, 1985". vertebrados ibéricos.org.