Tenerife speckled lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tenerife speckled lizard |
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| Conservation status | |
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Gallotia
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| Species: |
intermedia
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The Tenerife speckled lizard (Gallotia intermedia) is a special kind of lizard. It lives only on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Scientists recently discovered this lizard in 1996. It is the smallest member of a group of "giant" lizards found on the western Canary Islands.
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About the Tenerife Speckled Lizard
This lizard is a type of lacertid, which means it's a wall lizard. It is also an endemic species. This means it is found naturally only in one specific place in the world. For the Tenerife speckled lizard, that place is Tenerife.
Where Do They Live?
A scientist named Efraín Hernández first found this lizard in 1996. He discovered it in the Macizo de Teno area. This is in the far northwest of Tenerife.
People believe this lizard once lived all over the island. But today, you can only find it in a small area. This area is along the coast in the far west of the island. You can also find some lizards on Montana de Guaza in the far south.
How Many Are There?
In 2008, scientists estimated the number of these lizards. In the northwest, there were about 500 lizards. They lived in 40 separate groups along 9 kilometers of coastline. In the south, there were about 100 lizards.
Why Are They Endangered?
The biggest danger to the Tenerife speckled lizard is predation. This means other animals hunt and eat them. The main hunters are feral cats. Feral cats are pet cats that have become wild. Rats also hunt these lizards, but less often.
Since the year 2000, the number of lizards has been growing. This is because people are working to control the "introduced mammals." Introduced mammals are animals like cats and rats that humans brought to the island. They are not native to Tenerife.
See also
In Spanish: Lagarto canario moteado para niños
