​La Gomera Giant Lizard

Description

These lizards grow to 1.2 meters in length.

Diet

They spend their day looking for food and basking. These lizards are mainly herbivores however sub adults have more insects and their lavae in their diet than adults.

Habitat

La Gomera Giant Lizards live on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands. They were only known from fossilised bones and were thought to be Extinct however in 1999 a population was discovered in the western part of the island. The range of this lizard is believed to be less than one hector!

Breeding & Caring For Young

The courtship behaviour of the male consists of a head bobing (the male will inflate its throat and bob its head up and down while presenceing of a female. Courtship in captive lizards normally happens during July. However it has been seen happening between the end of June and mid September .

Like many other species of reptiles the La Gomera giant lizard is an lays eggs. The female will excavate a nest site where she will lay between three and seven eggs. A single clutch is lay every year.

Threats

Thanks to hunting, feral cats, feral rats and over grazing there are only 90 left in the wild and unfotally these amazing lizards are classed as Critically Endangered.

Conservation

Although they are still extremly endangered their populations have been increasing since 2001. There is a captive breeding program on the island for this species. Most of there range is in a protected area. Measures are being taken to help remove feral cats from the area. There are also international legislations for the protection of the La Gomera Giant Lizard.

Image Credits
www.arkive.org