Subfossil remains indicate that it occurred once through the island, up to 800 meters above sea level, and that its preferred habitat was xerophytic vegetation.
Though described from bones and generally considered extinct, sightings and photographic evidence of a large lacertid made in 2007 north of the island could belong to this species.[2][3] Some authors consider the sightings doubtful.[4]
Taxonomyedit
The La Palma giant lizard was described originally as a subspecies of Simony's giant lizard (G. simonyi),[5] but was elevated later to full species rank.[6] Remains from La Palma previously assigned to Gallotia goliath seem to belong to this taxon instead; if this is correct, they indicate that the average size of the species has decreased over the last millennia, possibly due to humans hunting the larger lizards.[7] The sighted La Palma giant lizard individual was slightly more than 30 cm (~1 ft) long and had an estimated age of four years.[2] New expeditions to the area were planned in hopes of finding more individuals and possibly a breeding population.[3]
Scientists did not have a chance to study living specimens, and present fossil and subfossil material of G. auaritae does not allow for sufficiently detailed analyses of its phylogenetic status. It likely belongs to the simonyiclade like the other giant Gallotia species from the western Canary Islands, but whether it actually was as close to G. simonyi as presumed remains unverified.[8]
Statusedit
Its decline may have started 2000 years ago with the arrival of humans on La Palma[citation needed]. Until the sightings, it was believed to have become extinct in the last 500 years. The main causes of extinction were believed to have been introduced cats, consumption by the original human population of the Canary Islands, and habitat destruction for agriculture. It would not the only lizard from the Canary Islands to have been considered extinct only to be rediscovered later: the same happened to El Hierro giant lizard and La Gomera giant lizard (rediscovered 1974 and 1999, respectively). The somewhat smaller Tenerife speckled lizard was only discovered for the first time in 1996.
Not a single living individual has been captured and any remaining population, if existing, is assumed to be tiny.[1]
^ abJose Antonio Mateo Miras, Iñigo Martínez-Solano (2009). "Gallotia auaritae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T61501A12492629. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61501A12492629.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ ab. Archived from the original on 2007-12-23. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
^ abCanary island giant lizard sighting gives hope to local biologists EL PAÍS via expatica.com. Accessed 28/12-2007
^Martín, A. (2009). "The Loch Ness monster and La Palma giant lizard Gallotia auaritae: are they really extant?". Oryx. 43 (1): 17. doi:10.1017/s0030605308431071.
^Mateo, J.A.; García-Márquez, M.; López-Jurado, L.F. & Barahona, F. (2001): Descripción del lagarto gigante de La Palma (Islas Canarias) a partir de restos subfósiles. Revista Española de Herpetología15: 53-59. [Spanish with English abstract]
^Afonso, O.M. & Mateo, J.A. (2003): Los lagartos gigantes canarios: conservación creativa de poblaciones mínimas. In: Jiménez, I. & Delibes, M. (eds): Al Borde de la Extinción: Integrando Ciencia, Política y Sociedad en la Recuperación de Especies Amenazadas. Evren, Valencia
^Barahona, F.; Evans, S. E.; Mateo, J.A.; García-Márquez, M. & López-Jurado, L.F. (2000): Endemism, gigantism and extinction in island lizards: the genus Gallotia on the Canary Islands. J. Zool.250(3): 373-388. doi:10.1017/S0952836900003101 (HTML abstract)
^Brown,R.P. (2008); Evidence of another giant lizard from the Canary Islands. Oryx42:171-172.doi:10.1017/S0030605308042221
External linksedit
"Found in La Palma a species thought to be extinct" (in spanish)
December 18, 2023
palma, giant, lizard, gallotia, auaritae, large, wall, lizard, endemic, island, palma, canary, islands, currently, extinct, critically, endangered, conservation, statuscritically, endangered, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaph. The La Palma giant lizard Gallotia auaritae is a large wall lizard endemic to the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands currently extinct or critically endangered La Palma giant lizardConservation statusCritically Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataFamily LacertidaeGenus GallotiaSpecies G auaritaeBinomial nameGallotia auaritaeMateo Garcia Marquez Lopez Jurado amp Barahona 2001SynonymsGallotia simonyi auaritaeMateo Garcia Marquez Lopez Jurado amp Barahona 2001 Contents 1 History 2 Taxonomy 3 Status 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editSubfossil remains indicate that it occurred once through the island up to 800 meters above sea level and that its preferred habitat was xerophytic vegetation Though described from bones and generally considered extinct sightings and photographic evidence of a large lacertid made in 2007 north of the island could belong to this species 2 3 Some authors consider the sightings doubtful 4 Taxonomy editThe La Palma giant lizard was described originally as a subspecies of Simony s giant lizard G simonyi 5 but was elevated later to full species rank 6 Remains from La Palma previously assigned to Gallotia goliath seem to belong to this taxon instead if this is correct they indicate that the average size of the species has decreased over the last millennia possibly due to humans hunting the larger lizards 7 The sighted La Palma giant lizard individual was slightly more than 30 cm 1 ft long and had an estimated age of four years 2 New expeditions to the area were planned in hopes of finding more individuals and possibly a breeding population 3 Scientists did not have a chance to study living specimens and present fossil and subfossil material of G auaritae does not allow for sufficiently detailed analyses of its phylogenetic status It likely belongs to the simonyi clade like the other giant Gallotia species from the western Canary Islands but whether it actually was as close to G simonyi as presumed remains unverified 8 Status editIts decline may have started 2000 years ago with the arrival of humans on La Palma citation needed Until the sightings it was believed to have become extinct in the last 500 years The main causes of extinction were believed to have been introduced cats consumption by the original human population of the Canary Islands and habitat destruction for agriculture It would not the only lizard from the Canary Islands to have been considered extinct only to be rediscovered later the same happened to El Hierro giant lizard and La Gomera giant lizard rediscovered 1974 and 1999 respectively The somewhat smaller Tenerife speckled lizard was only discovered for the first time in 1996 Not a single living individual has been captured and any remaining population if existing is assumed to be tiny 1 See also editList of Macaronesian animals extinct in the HoloceneReferences edit a b Jose Antonio Mateo Miras Inigo Martinez Solano 2009 Gallotia auaritae IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009 e T61501A12492629 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2009 RLTS T61501A12492629 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 a b Giant Lizard found on La Palma Archived from the original on 2007 12 23 Retrieved 2007 12 20 a b Canary island giant lizard sighting gives hope to local biologists EL PAIS via expatica com Accessed 28 12 2007 Martin A 2009 The Loch Ness monster and La Palma giant lizard Gallotia auaritae are they really extant Oryx 43 1 17 doi 10 1017 s0030605308431071 Mateo J A Garcia Marquez M Lopez Jurado L F amp Barahona F 2001 Descripcion del lagarto gigante de La Palma Islas Canarias a partir de restos subfosiles Revista Espanola de Herpetologia 15 53 59 Spanish with English abstract PDF abstract Afonso O M amp Mateo J A 2003 Los lagartos gigantes canarios conservacion creativa de poblaciones minimas In Jimenez I amp Delibes M eds Al Borde de la Extincion Integrando Ciencia Politica y Sociedad en la Recuperacion de Especies Amenazadas Evren Valencia PDF abstract Barahona F Evans S E Mateo J A Garcia Marquez M amp Lopez Jurado L F 2000 Endemism gigantism and extinction in island lizards the genus Gallotia on the Canary Islands J Zool 250 3 373 388 doi 10 1017 S0952836900003101 HTML abstract Brown R P 2008 Evidence of another giant lizard from the Canary Islands Oryx 42 171 172 doi 10 1017 S0030605308042221External links editThe Extinction Website Found in La Palma a species thought to be extinct in spanish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title La Palma giant lizard amp oldid 1165494745, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
