Gallotia simonyi
Simony's giant lizard (Gallotia simonyi) is a large, robust wall lizard native to El Hierro and the islet Roque Chico de Salmor in the Canary Islands. Adults are typically black with lighter legs and tails, often featuring distinct yellow ocelli on their sides, which are more prominent in males. This species is critically endangered, with its nominate subspecies already extinct.
Key Facts
- ›Endemic to El Hierro and Roque Chico de Salmor in the Canary Islands.
- ›Adults are black with lighter legs and tails, and often possess yellow ocelli.
- ›Males tend to be larger than females and have more prominent ocelli.
- ›The nominate subspecies, Gallotia simonyi simonyi, is extinct.
- ›The remaining subspecies, Gallotia simonyi machadoi, is critically endangered.
- ›Juveniles are lighter colored than adults, with reddish-brown to gray-brown backs and numerous ocelli.
Simony's Giant Lizard, El Hierro Giant Lizard
El Hierro, Canary Islands, Roque Chico De Salmor, Canary Islands
Rocky Coastal Areas, Island Islets
- Robust Build.
- Adult Coloration Is Black With Lighter Legs and Tail.
- Adults Have Yellow Ocelli On the Sides of the Body, Typically Six To Eight, With A Secondary Row Sometimes Present.
- Ocelli Are Larger and More Numerous In Males Than Females.
- Belly Is Dark Brown, Lighter On the External Ventral Scales and Posterior Section.
- Submaxilar Is Black With Light Spots and Longitudinal Dark Bands In the Gular Region.
- Juveniles Are Lighter, With A Brown-Reddish Anterior Back and Gray-Brown Posterior Back.
- Juveniles Have Numerous Yellow, Green, Or Blueish Ocelli On the Back.
- Nasal Openings Touch the Rostral, First Supralabial, and Postnasal.
- Five Supralabials Are Usually Present Before the Subocular.
- Large Temporal Scales .
- Two Very Large Supratemporal Scales.
- Maseteric and Tympanic Scales Are Present But Small.
- Serrated Collar Composed of 10 To 17 Scales.
- Dorsal Scales Are Small.
- Ventral Scales Are Almost Square and Arranged In 18-22 Longitudinal Series.
- Possesses 40 Chromosomes.
- Males Are Generally Larger Than Females With Proportionally Larger Heads and Longer Legs.
- the Species Grows and Reproduces Throughout Its Life.
- Size Can Be Reduced When Subjected To Predation and Prevented From Reaching Full Adult Size.
- Unknown
- Factors That Prevent Full Adult Size Imply Predation Pressure
Habitat Loss, Predation
About Gallotia simonyi
Simony's Giant Lizard
Simony's giant lizard, scientifically identified as Gallotia simonyi, is a substantial species of wall lizard that is native to the Canary Islands, specifically the island of El Hierro and the small islet Roque Chico de Salmor. This species is notable for its robust physique and distinctive coloration, particularly in adults.
Taxonomy and Evolution
The genus Gallotia is believed to have originated in the eastern Canary Islands and subsequently expanded westward. Simony's giant lizard is thought to have evolved from the La Gomera giant lizard after colonizing El Hierro less than 0.85 million years ago. Genetic studies indicate that the two recognized subspecies diverged relatively recently, likely due to sea level fluctuations at the end of the Pleistocene epoch. The two subspecies are Gallotia simonyi simonyi, the Roque Chico de Salmor giant lizard, which became extinct in 1931, and Gallotia simonyi machadoi, the El Hierro giant lizard, discovered in 1975. The latter subspecies remains critically endangered.
Physical Description
Adult Simony's giant lizards are characterized by their black coloration, often contrasted with lighter legs and tails. They typically display six to eight prominent yellow ocelli, or eye-spots, along the sides of their bodies, with males exhibiting these markings more extensively than females. The belly is generally dark brown. Juveniles present a different appearance, being lighter in color with a brown-reddish to gray-brown back and adorned with numerous yellow, green, or blueish ocelli. These lizards possess a robust build, with specific scale arrangements noted in their nasal, supralabial, temporal, supratemporal, maseteric, and tympanic regions, as well as their collar and dorsal and ventral scales. They have 40 chromosomes, and males tend to be larger than females, with proportionally larger heads and longer legs.
Conservation Status and History
Subfossil remains suggest that Simony's giant lizard was considerably larger before the arrival of the Guanches, with some individuals estimated to have exceeded one meter in total length. This historical size reduction indicates significant environmental pressures, likely including predation. The remaining subspecies, Gallotia simonyi machadoi, has been the focus of conservation efforts, including reintroduction programs to Roque Chico de Salmor and other areas of El Hierro since 1999. Despite these efforts, the species remains critically endangered, highlighting the ongoing challenges to its survival.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Simony's giant lizard?
Simony's giant lizard, scientifically known as Gallotia simonyi, is a large species of wall lizard. It is native to the islands of El Hierro and Roque Chico de Salmor in the Canary Islands.
What are the subspecies of Simony's giant lizard?
Two subspecies are recognized: Gallotia simonyi simonyi, which is now extinct since 1931, and Gallotia simonyi machadoi, the El Hierro giant lizard, which is still extant but critically endangered.
What does Simony's giant lizard look like?
Adults are robust and generally black, with lighter legs and tails. They often display six to eight yellow ocelli on their sides, which are more numerous and larger in males. Juveniles are lighter in color with reddish-brown to gray-brown backs and multiple yellow, green, or blueish ocelli.
Where is Simony's giant lizard found?
This species is endemic to the Canary Islands, specifically the island of El Hierro and the nearby islet Roque Chico de Salmor. Efforts have been made to reintroduce the surviving subspecies to Roque Chico de Salmor and other parts of El Hierro.
What is the conservation status of Simony's giant lizard?
Simony's giant lizard is classified as critically endangered. The nominate subspecies is extinct, and considerable conservation efforts are in place for the surviving subspecies.
How large can Simony's giant lizard get?
Before human colonization of the islands, some individuals are estimated to have exceeded one meter in total length. While the extinct subspecies was slightly larger, the surviving subspecies, even when raised in captivity, may not reach the full adult size due to various factors.
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