I Galloti there is nothing to be alarmed about these lizards.

Oct. 13, 2010 - PRLog -- found on the Canary Islands.  They first appeared on the islands over 20 million years ago and have evolved over that time. These are unique to the Canary Islands and if you were to find another lizard that was close relatives to these type of lizards you have to go to the western part of the Mediterranean region and look for Sandrunner lizards. The characteristic of Gallotia lizards are that they are known for eating a significant number of plants and that several of their lineages have evolved to a slightly larger size than their normal regular small size.

The Gallotia Galloti is the one that can be found in the Canary Islands of Tenerife and La Palma, which is why they are usually called the Tenerife Lizard or the Western Canaries Lizard. There are four subspecies of the lizard that are recognised as this species, the Northern Tenerife Lizard, Southern Tenerife Lizard, the Anaga Lizard and the La Palma Lizard. Obviously they are named in the located or area they can be found and have little differences between them. Their closest relative is the smaller Boettger lizard that can be found on neighbouring Canary islands El Hierro and La Gomera. The Gallotia Galloti is a lizard that is a decent size, it isn't one of the small type of lizards and the males can reach lengths of almost 16 inches long but it still is considered one  of the smaller Gallotia out of the species as there are Gallotia that can double that in length.

These are a common type of animal in Tenerife, as of much they have a reputation of eating ripe fruit.  Which many locals find is a nuisance to their vineyards and orchards. But this also can lead to their downfall as they can occasionally get trapped or even worse poisoned.

There was also another subspecies of the Gallotia family on Tenerife, the Gallotia Goliath. It was a reptile that had lived long before the arrival of human but is now extinct, and it was described by a German herpetologist Robert Mertens to have grown at least three feet long (roughly a metre long) which is why it has been called the Tenerife giant lizard. There have been fossils of these lizards that have been found in volcanic caves which is a place where they frequently stayed with other animals such as the Tenerife giant rat.

The lizards can be found in Touristy areas but you won't see them much in the apartments in Tenerife, so there won't be any surprises in the morning when you wake up. The rule goes the further out of the cities you go the more likely you are to see them but thankfully they won't take notice of you or will scurry off in the other direction as they aren't aggressive animals, although if you are an animal lover they are perfect for photo opportunities.















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