Giant Lizard found on La Palma

Giant Lizard found on La Palma
larger | smaller
By h.b. - Dec 19, 2007 - 7:09 PM

The La Palma lizard - Photo EFE

The species was thought to be extinct on the island

The giant La Palma lizard Gallotia auaritae was thought to have been as dead as the dodo, but now José Antonio Mateo, from the species recovery centre on the Canary Island of La Gomera has found the species still at large on the island of La Palma.

As long as 25 years ago it was thought the only giant lizards to survive were on Gran Canaria, but since then small colonies of the reptile have been found on Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro and now La Palma.

The reptile found is thought to be between 301 and 312 mm long and is thought to be about four years old. The experts think the lizard is looking for a new base on the island and that a new search be carried out immediately for the future protection of the species.

Click here for related stories

mobile |

email this article | print

printer friendly page

More Spain News : Canarias

Readers' comments:
Please keep to the subject. Opinions published here are of our visitors, not the Typically Spanish team. Comments which go against Spanish laws or which are libellous are not allowed. We reserve the right to delete any comment we wish. Placing a comment indicates you have read our terms and conditions and privacy policy.

Por favor, céntrate en el tema. Son las opiniones de los internautas, y no las de Typically Spanish. No está permitido verter comentarios contrarios a las leyes españolas o injuriantes. Reservado el derecho a eliminar los comentarios que consideremos fuera de tema. Escribir un comentario indica que has leído nuestros condiciones de uso y politica de privacidad.