Reptiles Of La Gomera

[davo]

Here are some pics of all herptiles on the island of La Gomera I visited a little while ago. The island is one of the canaries off the coast of Africa and hasn't been much of a tourist destination until recent (electricity only in the 70s). Still a very much untouched island and is one of I think 3 places (the Azores and the Madeira Islands) that have the Pliocene subtropical laurel forests. Very interesting place... Anyway reptiles right...

This was the first encountered and closest I got... this little guy was actually in my room so was a good start... Tarentola gomerensis or Gomeran Wall Gecko, was really cool I'd love to keep a couple now LOL... This is a pic of an adult in the day(http://itgmv1.fzk.de/www/itg/uetz/herp/photos/Tarentola_gomerensis.jpg), I only ever found them at night (nocturnal). My pics are below.

Also spotted these guys what I assume to have been caudal luring, unless it was a communication thing, I don't know.

 

[davo]

Gallotia caesaris, or La Gomeran Wall Lizard were very abundant. Adults were much more unwilling to have their photos taken than the youngsters (also much more abundant), which are much more colourful. These like La Gomeras other lizards have actually increased in population (suprisingly) due to the recent development of the island, increasing it's range at the expense of the vegetation and forest lands.

 

[davo]

And the last species I came across, was this lovely Chalcides viridanus, the Canarian Cylindrical Skink. Didn't seem as abundant as the other species, I only found them higher up in altitude also (not sure if this is their distribution, or was just coincidence). Thing I couldn't get over with these were how quick they were. I started to get a bit annoyed at the camera lens noise to be honest...
Anyway, that's it

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Awesome pics man! That gecko is really cool, I see what you mean about that white tail. The Gallotia caesaris pics are really good as well. I wonder what they look like in breeding colors? That skink is pretty cool too, he's a fat little fella! Well it look's like you had a good time, do you have any pics of the island?

 

[davo]

Unfortunately I think there is just the one more species, Gallotia bravoana, which I didn't get the chance to see (at least I think) as they are extremely threatened, and in 2004 there were just a mere 90 specimens recorded left in the wild, and was thought to be extinct until very recently. This is 'El Lagarto Gigante' http://www.visitacanarias.com/mm/30082.jpg!

 

[davo]

Awesome pics man! That gecko is really cool, I see what you mean about that white tail. The Gallotia caesaris pics are really good as well. I wonder what they look like in breeding colors? That skink is pretty cool too, he's a fat little fella! Well it look's like you had a good time, do you have any pics of the island?

I gotta admit I had a real softspot for the geckos, this one especially. It kind of became my La Gomeran pet for a few days, didn't mind being handled and was gutted on about the fourth night, it had gone, not to be seen again.

I shall get some pics of the island up shortly mate, it's an interesting place.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I gotta admit I had a real softspot for the geckos, this one especially. It kind of became my La Gomeran pet for a few days, didn't mind being handled and was gutted on about the fourth night, it had gone, not to be seen again.

Check your suitcase, he might be a stowaway!

 

[davo]

Check your suitcase, he might be a stowaway!

I already had... would have been selfishly over the moon too

 

[sncboom]

Nice pictures, looks like you had a lot of fun.

 

[Near]

Man instead of taking pictures you should have shipped them to me