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Gran Canaria giant lizard facts for kids

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Gran Canaria giant lizard
Gallotia stehlini -Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain-8.jpg
On Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Synonyms
  • Lacerta galloti var. stehlini
    Schenkel, 1901
  • Lacerta stehlini
    Boulenger, 1920
  • Lacerta simonyi stehlini
    — Mertens, 1928
  • Lacerta stehlini
    — Kramer, 1979
  • Gallotia stehlini
    — Hernández et al., 2000
GallotiaStehlini
Gran Canaria giant lizard

The Gran Canaria giant lizard (Gallotia stehlini) is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is found in the Canary Islands.

Etymology

The specific name, stehlini, is in honor of Swiss paleontologist Hans Georg Stehlin, who collected the holotype.

Description

G. stehlini grows to a total length (including tail) of up to 80 cm (31 in). It is among the largest reptiles within the family Lacertidae. The species comes in a variety of grays, browns, and reddish hues. Unlike their female counterparts, males exhibit sizable jowls, robust heads and overall greater body mass.

Diet

G. stehlini is a true omnivore. The young often consume various invertebrates, vegetation and soft fruits. As they mature, their diet largely consists of plant matter.

Geographic range

G. stehlini is endemic to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands of Spain but it has been introduced to Fuerteventura.

Habitat

The natural habitats of G. stehlini are temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, rocky shores, and pastureland, at altitudes from sea level to 1,850 m (6,070 ft).

Reproduction

G. stehlini is oviparous.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Lagarto gigante de Gran Canaria para niños

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