Gusteris

Gusteris ("Gustéris", "Gustera"*) is a rare amphibian lizard

This incredibly rare lizard species is living in the Western Macedonia, a part of northern Greece (Lefkopigi, Polyphitos Lake, Kozani, West Macedonia, Greece). It is believed that this strange creature is surviving in this specific place from prehistoric times. There are two different types of this creature, the one is a small horned lizard and the other one is reaching enormous sizes with the female being the cock of the walk (1-2 meters long). Both types are amphibian and they tend to live in marshy environments. They have strange procreation circle, they breed once in two years only if the conditions correspond to their needs. It's the only lizard species that doesn't hibernate and breeds in winter time (10-30 January). It lays its eggs (about 6-23) in soft waterlogged soil nearby marshes or lakes. Hatching time varies depending on weather conditions (ground moisture and temperature) but can be from 2-9 months. Gusteris lizards usually are omnivores feeding on vegetation, insects, smaller lizards and rats. Those living in lakes can enjoy hunting fish. They tend to be more carnivorous when young and tend to become more herbivorous as they age. They produce saliva; therefore they can eat while out or in the water. The lifespan of this rare lizard fluctuates approximately 25-30 years.

Gustéris

The name "Gusteris" is Latin. It's coming from the family of the Latin word "Gustus -us m" and "Gustatus -us m" (gust-o, gustare, gustav-i, gustat-um = taste/take a little of/enjoy). Gustatus means taste; appetite, flavor and Gustus means tasting; taste, flavor,a whet or relish. In Spanish Gustar means -to like. Even in English Gust means taste fancy, etc. In Latin, in passive voice in 1.sg in indicative it is gustor and in subjunctive it becomes guster. In 2.sg in indicative it is gustáris and in subjunctive it becomes gustéris. So it is a Latin word indeed. The definition from the word Gusteris is someone who does only what he wants/likes. In many regions of Greece the word lizard, except from "ΣΑΥΡΑ" (Savra), is called "ΓΚΟΥΣΤΕΡΑ" (Gustera) and the small ones "ΓΚΟΥΣΤΕΡΙΤΣΑ" (Gusteritsa). The second one obviously is coming from the Latin word because of the lizard Gusteris. The lizard took this name from its strange and "spoiled" if you like behavior to breed and procreate only if the environment and everything else suits it. That's why it is so rare and unknown to the world. That's why (and that's a pity) it's endangered to be extinct. The population already is extremely limited. Lots of people in Kozani are not aware of its existence. Its not easy at all to find and see them. In old times there were a lot of legends created because of this lizard. It was considered as the devil or a curse. There are a lot of stories from the early years of the past century about huntings by locals with dogs trying to eliminate those big lizards because they were damaging their harvests.