El Hierro Giant Lizard

Animal Wildlife | El Hierro Giant Lizard |The El Hierro Giant Lizard is a species that can be found on the island of El Hierro,1of the Canary Islands (Spain).The species was once present throughout much of the island and on the small offshore RoqueChico deSalmor,but is now confined to a small areas of cliff with sparse vegetation.It is currently restricted to the southern end of theRisco deTibataje,in laFuga deGorreta,located between Guinea and the so-calledPaso delPino.

El Hierro giant lizard is a thickset reptile with a broad head.Adults are dark grey to brown in colour,with two rows of pale orange patches running along its sides.Its belly is mostly brown,but has an orange to red colouration towards the middle.Older El Hierro Giant Lizards are mainly black with some grey.Males are larger than females.El Hierro Giant Lizard is a very large lacertid that can grow beyond 20cm in length,and lives only on theHierro Island of Spain\\\'s Canary Islands.It used to exist in a broader area but now only exists in a certain part of Hierro Island.Their number is down to a mere300 to400,including those returned to wilderness by humans.

The El Hierro giant lizard is omnivorous animal.It eats plants and insects.Mating begins inMay and the5 to 13eggs are laid fromJune until the end ofAugust.Their eggs hatch after 61days.Many reptiles become active after raising their body temperature by sunbathing.The body of the El Hierro Giant Lizard can be as hot as 40degreesCelsius after sunbathing.

The number of El Hierro Giant Lizards has dropped because of a scarcity in food plants and an increase in attacks by seagulls and other animals.Although the extent of human-induced changes to the ecosystem is unknown,with so few El Hierro Giant Lizards in existence, any further human-induced changes to their environment could cause them to go extinct in a flash.To avoid this tragic scenario, Spain has enlisted the entire country to help protect the El Hierro Giant Lizard.