La Gomera Giant Lizard

Taxobox
name = La Gomera Giant Lizard

---

status = CR
trend = up
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Sauria
familia = Lacertidae
subfamilia = Gallotiinae
genus = "Gallotia"
species = "G. bravoana"
binomial = "Gallotia bravoana"
binomial_authority = (Hutterer, 1985)
synonyms =
* "Gallotia gomerana" (Hutterer, 1985)Verify source|date=July 2007
* "Galliota gomerona" ("lapsus")
* "Gallotia simonyi bravoana" (Hutterer, 1985)
* "Gallotia simonyi gomerana" (Hutterer, 1985)

The La Gomera Giant Lizard ("Gallotia bravoana"; Spanish: Lagarto Gigante de la Gomera) 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 "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 meter longVerify source|date=July 2007 . The females lay a single clutch annually of three to seven eggs on average.

tatus and conservation

Apparent La Gomera Giant Lizards are reported in reports on La Gomera up to the 19th centuryFact|date=February 2007, but not thereafter. The species was originally described from subfossil remains in 1985 (Hutterer 1985), presumably having gone extinct by then. Spanish biologists led by Juan Carlos Rando rediscovered this species in 1999 (Nogales "et al." 2001). The biologists found only six living individuals (BBC News 2000).

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 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 needs to be controlled (Miras & Pérez-Mellado 2005).

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 taxonVerify source|date=July 2007 .

Barbadillo "et al." (1999) decided for "bravoana" when they elevated the taxon to species rank. Nogales "et al." (2001) concurred as regards species status, but used "Gallotia gomerana". Following the ruling of the International Commission on Zoological NomenclatureFact|date=February 2007, "gomerana" is a junior synonym or "bravoana" (Miras & Pérez-Mellado 2005). It is not unequivocally accepted that it does constitute a distinct species, however (e.g. Bischoff 2000); in all likelihood, "G. simonyi" is its closest living relative (Maca-Meyer "et al." 2003).

References

* 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". 419 pp. Editorial Planeta, Barcelona.

* BBC News (2000): [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/682621.stm Scientists find 'extinct' giant lizards] . Version of 2000-MAR-21. Downloaded on 18 May 2006.

* Bischoff, Wolfgang (1998): Bemerkungen zu den "fossilen" Rieseneidechsen der Kanarischen Inseln. "In:" Bischoff, Wolfgang (ed.): "Handbuch der Reptilien und Amphibien Europas" 6 (Die Reptilien der Kanarischen Inseln, der Selvagens-Inseln und des Madeira-Archipels): 387-407. Aula-Verlag, Wiesbaden.

* Bischoff, Wolfgang (2000): DGHT-AG Lacertiden aktuell: [http://www.dght.de/ag/lacertiden/lacertiden1.htm Rieseneidechsen auf La Gomera] . Version of 2000-MAY-23. Retrieved 2007-FEB-25.

* Hutterer, R. (1985): Neue Funde von Rieseneidechsen (Lacertidae) auf der Insel Gomera. "Bonner zoologische Beiträge" 36(3/4): 365-394.

* 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. "Biol. J. Linn. Soc." 80(4): 659–670. DOI|10.1111/j.1095-8312.2003.00265.x (HTML abstract)

* Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is critically endangered

* Nogales, M.; Rando, J.C.; Valido, A. & Martín, A. (2001): Discovery of a living giant lizard, Genus "Gallotia" (Reptilia: Lacertidae), from La Gomera, Canary Islands. "Herpetologica" 57: 169-179. [http://apt.allenpress.com/aptonline/?request=get-abstract&issn=0018-0831&volume=057&issue=02&page=0169 HTML abstract]

External links

* lacerta.de: [http://www.lacerta.de/Seiten_Bildarchiv/Gallotia_simonyi_bravoana_(Bilder).htm "Gallotia bravoana"] image gallery. Retrieved 2007-FEB-25.