AG magazine (in print)
Online magazine (pdf)
Online articles (html)
Literature- and poster projects
of the real lizards, family Lacertidae
Gallotia galloti eisentrauti BISCHOFF, 1982
Arechavaleta, M. & S. Rodríguez & N. Zurita & A. García (coord.) (2010) -
Báez, M. (1984) -
Bannert, B. (1998) -
The longevity of several lacertid lizard species in captivity is reported. The conditions of keeping, which have been successful throughout many years, are briefly presented.
The lizard species Gallotia atlantica, G. caesaris, G. galloti eisentrauti, and G. stehlini from the Canary Islands and Teira dugesii from Madeira were kept and bred in captivity. Since ecological data concerning the breeding biology of these species are rare, the results of several years of captive breeding are presented. Data were collected from six pairs of G. atlantica during five years. The females laid 1-3 clutches of eggs each year between April and the beginning of September. The first egg clutches of a year contained 2.7 (1-5) eggs and the second egg clutches consisted of 2.5 (1-4) eggs. Third egg clutches were rare and consisted of only 1.7 (1-2) eggs. The baby lizards hatched after 73 (64-87) days. Three pairs of G. caesaris were observed during three years. Between the middle of May and the end of July the females of this species laid one clutch per year containing 3.8 (3-5) eggs. Only one female produced a second clutch during one season. The young hatched after 67 (64- 69) days. Eight pairs of G. g. eisentrauti were observed during seven years. Between the beginning of May and the end of August these females oviposited annually 1-2 clutches, which contained 4.7 (2-9) eggs in the first clutch of a year and 3.4 (2-6) eggs in the second annual clutch. The young hatched after 73 (62-89) days. One pair of G. stehlini was observed over a period of six years. Between June and August this female produced annually one clutch containing 9.8 (5-14) eggs. The young hatched after 80 (75-86) days. Two pairs of Teira dugesii were observed during one year and two pairs during four years. Between the end of April and the middle of August the females produced 1-2 clutches per year with 2.6 (2-3) eggs in the first and 2.1 (1-3) eggs in the second clutch of a year. The incubation period of the eggs was 72 (59-93) days. Furthermore, sizes of hatchlings of all species are presented. Colour patterns of hatchlings of G. g. eisentrauti, G. caesaris, and G. atlantica are described. Observations concerning the raising of the young in captivity are reported.
Bille, T. (1997) -
Bischoff, W. (1982) -
Die Insel Teneriffa (Kanarischer Archipel) wird von zwei Unterarten von Gallotia galloti bewohnt, von denen die Nominatform im Zentrum und im Süden lebt. Für sie wird ein Lectotypus designiert, und die terra typica wird auf das Tal von Güimar restringiert. Die größere und buntgefärbte Form der Anaga-Halbinsel und der Nordküste wird als Gallotia galloti eisentrauti ssp.n. (terra typica Bajamar) beschrieben. Das Vorkommen zweiter distinkter Unterarten, die auch sekundäre Kontaktzonen ausbilden, wird historisch diskutiert und stützt die Hypothese, daß Teneriffa ursprünglich aus mindestens zwei getrennten Teilen bestanden hat. Die Verbreitung von G. galloti auf den vier westlichen Kanaren-Inseln Teneriffa, Gomera, Hierro und La Palma wird mit derjenigen anderer Echsenarten dieser Inseln vergleichend diskutiert.
Bischoff, W. (1985) -
Dieser Beitrag ist der erste Teil einer Serie über die Herpetofauna der Kanarischen Inseln, in dem es zunächst auf die Lage, das Alter und die Entstehung des Archipels eingegangen wird. Bemerkungen zur Topographie, zum Klima und zur Vegetation geben Hinweise auf die Umweltbedingungen für die hier lebenden Amphibien und Reptilia. Herkunft und gegenwärtige Situation der endemischen Arten werden diskutiert, und es folgen Bemerkungen zu den nur fossil bekannten Arten Testudo burchardi, Gallotia goliath und G. maxima: Folgende Arten wurden auf den Inseln eingeschleppt: Hyla meridionalis, Rana perezi, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, Hemidactylus turcicus und Tarentola mauritanica. Den Abschluß dieses Beitrages bildet ein Schlüssel zum Bestimmen aller gegenwärtig von den Kanarischen Inseln bekannten Arten und Unterarten.
Bischoff, W. (1998) -
Das kleine »Galapagos vor der europäischen Haustür« ist Gegenstand dieses in sich geschlossenen Bandes. Er gibt erstmalig einen Überblick über die Herpetofauna dieser Inselgruppen.
Bischoff, W. (2010) -
Böhme, W. (2010) -
In the herpetological collection of ZFMK 528 scientific species group names are represented by type materi- al. Of these, 304 names are documented by primary type specimens (onomatophores) while for 224 further names sec- ondary type specimens (typoids) are available, ranging chronologically from 1801 to 2010. The list is a shortened pred- ecessor of a comprehensive type catalogue in progress. It lists name bearing types with their catalogue numbers includ- ing information on further type series members also in other institutions, while secondary types are listed only by pres- ence, both in ZFMK and other collections including holotype repositories. Geographic origin and currently valid names are also provided.
Böhme, W. & Bischoff, W. (1984) -
Böhme, W. & Hutterer, R. & Bings, W. (1985) -
Vocalizations of the Iberian lacertids Psammodromus algirus and P. hispanicus as well as of the Canarian endemic Gallotia atlantica, G. galloti galloti, g. eisentrauti, G. caesaris, g. gomerae, g. palmae and G. stehlini were analyzed sonagraphically. The structure of the calls resembles those known from the families Pygopodidae (Lialis, Delma) and Iguanidae (Anolis) rather than those of Gekkonidae. The vocal repertoire of the lacertids is rather simple; it consists of clicks and various combinations of tonal and noisy components. Duration and frequency range of the sounds are variable; at least frequency range seems to vary with individual size, body temperature and the level of excitement. Most lizards vocalized when handled, but vocalization was also heard in free-ranging animals kept in cages and observed in the field. Sounds are uttered by inferior individuals defending a hide but also by dominant animals pursuing a rival. Field observations indicate that vocal activity is most intensive after sunset and may last until midnight. It is argued that vocalization in the highly territorial lizards of genus Gallotia may help regulate the high population densities, especially in the dark when optical signals do not work. The subtropical climate and the heat-gathering lava of the Canary islands make a nocturnal activity possible. The systematic significance of vocalization in Gallotia is discussed. Vocalization may be a synapomorphic character defining the genus Gallotia, but it is also present in Psammodromus and has been mentioned for Podarcis, Lacerta and Ichnotropis. From this, a multiple evolution can also not be excluded. Therefore, the common derived karyotype of the Gallotia species is the only established synapomorphic character justifying a separate generic but not at all familial rank for the Canary lizards.
Bosch, H.A.J. in den (2004) -
n response to two previously published accounts, it is pointed out that successful incubation of lizard eggs does not primarily depend on the medium on or in which the eggs rest, nor on the incubator. Successful incubation is solely based on the two physi- cal variables of humidity (measured as water potential in kPa) and temperature. When these variables are within the proper range (-400/-150 kPa and 25-30°C) then the chief criteria are met. The inaccurate suggestion that the sex of lacertids is re- lated to incubation temperature is rejected because the gender of the young in this group of reptiles is determined genetically. The single report cited in the scientific literature that discussed TSD in a lacertid (Podarcis pityusensis) is refuted by consid- ering larger samples of incubated eggs. Similarly, reports that water potential of the substrate affects sex determination have also been discredited in the scientific lit- erature. The sometimes in hobby literature propa- gated short, artificially induced additional hibernation soon after the summer to bring on an additional reproductive period with egg production in November/December, is objectionable. The stress on the animals is such that the health of the lizards is com- promised. Moreover, among serious reptile enthusiasts there is only a limited demand for lacertids, discounting the need for so many offspring.
Bosch, H.A.J. in den & Bout, R.G. (1998) -
The interspecific relationships among female size, clutch size, egg size, and hatchling size were examined for 64 European lacertids. The eggs of all species increased linearly in both linear dimensions and mass during incubation. Across species initial egg mass was positively correlated with juvenile mass, with an allometric relationship exponent of 0.87. Initial egg mass across species increased proportionally with female mass to the power of 0.57. Moreover, an increase in maternal mass was also accompanied by an increase in clutch size. The number of eggs per clutch across species scaled with female mass to the power of 0.39. Removing the effect of female mass resulted in a negative correlation between egg mass and clutch size. Species for which the average egg size was lower than expected on the basis of female mass, tended to have larger relative clutch size. The total egg mass per clutch was about one third of female mass (exponent 0.94).
Bowler, J. (2018) -
Delgado Castro, G. (2007) -
Dieckmann, M. (2011) -
Fain, A. & Bannert, B. (2000) -
Two new species of the genus Ophionyssus Mgnin, 1884 (Acari: Macronyssidae) are described, O. galloticolus spec. nov. parasitizing the lacertid lizard Gallotia galloti eisentrauti from Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, and O. setosus spec. nov. parasitic on Gallotia stehlini from Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.
Filson, R.P. (2004) -
Font, E. & Molina-Borja, M. (2001) -
Gonzáles, P. & Pinto, F. & Nogales, M. & Jiménez-Asensio, J. & Hernández, M. & Cabrera, V.M. (1996) -
Phylogenetic relationships among species and subspecies of the Canary Island endemic lizard genus Gallotia are inferred base on nucleotide sequence of fragments of 12S ribosomal RNA and cytochrome b mitochondrial genes. The four morphologically established species have also been recognized at the molecular level. Relative affinities among species follow an eatsern-western geographic transect. The nearly extinct species Galloti simonyi from the most western island of El Hierro is closely related to the common western species Gallotia galloti. The nearest branch to this pair is Gallotia stehlini from the central island of Gran Canaria, and finally, Gallotia atlantica from the two eastern and geologically oldest islands appears as the most distantly related species of the group. At the statistical level, four subspecies can be recognized in G. galloti, but only two in G. atlantica.
Grossmann, W. (2008) -
Syntopic colonies of Gallot`s lizard and the Canary wall gecko were observed basking on a lava rock demarca- tion wall at a tourist resort on Teneriffe Island. While the lizards showed a reduced escape distance of about 40 cm towards humans, dogs, and pigeons, the geckos had assumed a nearly black colouration, matching that of the lava rock, and could be approached and picked up without their responding defensively. When a cat came strolling down the crown of the wall, the lizards suddenly reverted to escape distances of 5+ metres. Adults re- sponded first, triggering the flight of younger specimens. The geckos did not take notice of the passing cat, even though it walked by some as close as 25 cm. It would thus appear a.) that local lizards have learnt to differentiate between `harmless` (tourists, dogs, pigeons) and `potentially dangerous` (cats) passers-by; and b.) that younger generations learn appropriate defensive responses from older specimens. The lack of any defensive response by the geckos might have to do with a.) their being blinded by the bright sun, or b.) total reliance on camouflage. Comparative observations on Tarentola mauritanica on Gozo Island (Malta) seem to disprove the former expla- nation, as these would maintain escape distances of 5-10 m even in bright sunlight. These observation comple- ment, and in part contradict, previous summaries of these species` defensive behavioural patterns.
Grossmann, W. (2009) -
Grossmann, W. (2014) -
Es wird über die Sichtung einer in einem schlechten körperlichern Zustand befindlichen, aber dennoch agilen Gallotia galloti eisentrauti im Norden Teneriffas berichtet. Über die Bedeutung dieser Beobachtung für die Terrarist wird diskutiert.
Koppetsch, T. & Sànchez Romero, G. (2023) -
Kroniger, M. & Zawadzki, M. (2005) -
Lindner, L. (2017) -
Während einer Reise im Juni 2016 nach Fuerteventura und eines Ausflugs auf die Insel Lobos wurde die Herpetofauna und Flora beobachtet und fotografiert. Es wurden die hier lebende Unterart der Atlantischen Eidechse, Gallotia atlantica mahoratae sowie die von teneriffa nach Esquinzo verschleppte Gallotia galloti eisentrauti gefunden. Der Purpurarienskink, Chalcides simonyi und die ebenfalls nach Fuerteventura verschleppte Gran-Canatria-Eidechse, Gallotia stehlini wurden leider nicht gefunden.
Machado, A. & L. F. López-Jurado, A. Martín (1985) -
Mayer, W. & Bischoff, W. (1991) -
All recent members of the genus Gallotia from the seven large isles of the Canary Archipelago have been investigated immunologically by means of micro-complement- fixation technique. Three species of genera living in NW-Africa were used as outgroup. Prom the evolutionary tree constructed from the results isolation times can be estimated and ways of colonization can be reconstructed. Various possibilities of insertion of the fossil species G . goliath in the evolutionary tree are discussed.
Molina Borja, M. (1986) -
Several behaviour patterns that appear during courting of females by male lizards are described for two different Canarian subspecies: Gallotia galloti eisentrauti and G. galloti palmae. A report of copulation in G.galloti caesaris is also included. The importance of the courting behaviour as a character for studying behaviour evolution and taxonomic relationships is discussed in relation to another behavioural character previously cited by other authors.
Molina Borja, M. (1994) -
Molina Borja, M. (1996) -
In order to contribute to a comparative view on lacertids, the effect of pinealectomy on the freerunning activity displayed under constant darkness and temperature (27.5°C ± 0.5) has been studied in the lizard Gallotia galloti eisentrauti. Animals showed an entrained motor activity rhythm under an initial light-dark (12:12 hours) routine and freerunning circadian periods ranging between 24.1 and 25.5 h during constant darkness (periodograms obtained by Sokolove & Bushell`s method). After pinealectomy, most animals showed no significant circadian rhythm, their locomotor activity becoming diffuse throughout the whole 24 h period. Thus, the pineal gland seems to play an important role as a main pacemaker regulating the endogenous activity rhythm under constant conditions. This result contrasts with that found in Podarcis sicula where after pinealectomy only changes in length of the freerunning period were found.
Molina Borja, M. & Rodriguez-Dominguez, M.A. (2004) -
The aim was to study as to how biometric and life-history traits of endemic lacertids in the Canary Islands (genus Gallotia) may have evolved, and possible factors affecting the diversification process of this taxon on successively appearing islands have been deduced. To that end, comparative analyses of sexual dimorphism and scaling of different body, head and life-history traits to body size in 10 species/subspecies of Gallotia have been carried out. Both Felsenstein`s independent contrasts and Huey and Bennett`s `minimum evolution` analyses show that male and female snout-vent length (SVL) changed proportionally (sexual size dimorphism not changing with body size) throughout the evolution of these lizards and all within-sex biometric traits have changed proportionally to SVL. Life-history traits (size at sexual maturity, clutch size, hatchling SVL and mass, and life span) are highly correlated with adult female body size, the first two being the only traits with a positive allometry to female SVL. These results, together with the finding that the slope of hatchling SVL to female SVL regression was lower than that of SVL at maturity to female SVL, indicates that larger females reach maturity at a larger size, have larger clutches and, at the same time, have relatively smaller hatchlings than smaller females. There was no significant correlation between any pair of life-history traits after statistically removing the effect of body size. As most traits changed proportionally to SVL, the major evolutionary change has been that of body size (a ca. threefold change between the largest and the smallest species), that is suggested to be the effect of variable ecological conditions faced by founder lizards in each island.
Molina-Borja, M. & Font, E. & Mesa Ávila, G. (2006) -
Sex and population differences in the ultraviolet (UV) reflectance patterns of two phenotypically divergent lacertids from Tenerife, Gallotia galloti eisentrauti and G. g. galloti, are described. Adults in both populations have rows of lateral and ventro-lateral blue patches on either side of the trunk that show a single peak of reflectance in the near UV. The lateral patches of males are more intensely reflective than those of females, but females have more chromatic and UV-shifted lateral patches than males. Most G. g. eisentrauti and some G. g. galloti also have blue cheek patches on either side of the gular area. Male cheek patches have reflectance peaks in the near UV, whereas those of females peak in the visible part of the spectrum. The lateral patches of males from the two populations differ in hue but not in intensity, those of G. g. galloti being more UV-shifted than those of G. g. eisentrauti. Female G. g. galloti have more intensely reflective lateral patches than female G. g. eisentrauti. Interindividual variation in peak wavelength and/or UV chroma is present in both sexes and populations. This is the first demonstration of sexual dichromatism in the UV reflectance of colour patches in a lacertid.
Musters, R.J. (1992) -
Canary island lizards are very aggresive animals. h is impossible to keep more than one couple in a terrarium. Kept indoors the lizards arc very shy. Adult animals lose their shyness in an outdoor ter- rarium. If kept together the young animals may fight or even kill each other. My conclusion is to keep the juveniles in separate containers. The fe- males lay about seven eggs in July, and at an incu- bation temperature of 28 to 31o C the eggs hatch after 63 to 68 days.
Rodriguez-Dominguez, M.A. & Ruiz-Caballero, M. (1998) -
Sacha, M. (2017) -
Schäberle, C. & Schäberle, A. (2019) -
Die Kanareneidechsen der Gattung Gallotia gehören zu den chasrismatischten Vertretern der Lacertidae. Durch ihr Vorkommen auf den beliebten Urlaubsinseln, ihre Größe und ihr teils massenhaftes Auftreten sind sire auch bei Laien recht bekannt, während die packenden bis dramatischen Geschichten rund um die beinahe ausgestorbenen Rieseneidechsen die Fachleute elektrisieren. Im seltsamen Mißverhältnis dazu steht, dass diese kräftigen, teils farbenfrohen Echsen in der letzten Zeit in der Terraristik nur noch wenig beachtet worden sind. Zeit für eine Ehrenrettung!
Bizarre Felsstrukturen, exotische Pflanzen und gierige Eidechsen lassen sich in einem Wort zusammenfassen: Teneriffa. Die größte Insel der Kanaren ist geprägt vom Pico del Teide, Spaniensn höchsten Berg mit 3.718 m ü. NN. Dadurch bietet sie die verschiedensten Klimazonen auf engstem Raum – und eine Heimat für Kanareneidechsen mehrerer Taxa.
Die Pracht-Kanareneidechse ist eine besonders farbenfrohe Vertreterin ijhrer Gattung. Obwohl d9ie Tiere auf Teneriffa in großer Zahl vorkommen und regelrechte Wegelagerer-Qualitäten entwickeln, verhalten sie sich im Terrarium häufig sehr scheu. Aber auch hier kann die Eingewöhnung gelingen - und selbst mit der berüchtigten Aggressivität der Tiere untereinander kann man fertig werden.
Schäberle, C. & Schäberle, A. (2022) -
Observation of introduced lizard species on the Canary Islands of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. Teira dugesii from Madeira has been observed on Gran Canaria, Gallotia stehlini, originally from Gran Canaria, on the island of Fuerteventura. Also on Fuerteventura, the evidence of Gallotia galloti eisentrauti, introduced from Tenerife, was confirmed.
Schmidt-Loske, K. (2001) -
Thorpe, R.S. (1985) -
Troidl, A. & Troidl, S. (2002) -
Troidl, S. & Troidl, A. (2014) -
areas in different landscapes and climatic zones. Our special interest was the herpetofauna of this island that is poor in species numbers but nonetheless very interesting. One focus was the search for the Tenerife Speckled Lizard (Gallotia intermedia) in the South and Southwest of the island.
Zawadzki, M. (2014) -
Während einer Reise im Dezember 2013 nach Fuerteventura wurde die dortige Herpetofauna untersucht. Neben der nahezu allgegenwärtigen Atlantischen Eidechse, die hier in der Unterart Gallotia atlantica mahoratae vorkommt, und dem Kanarischen Mauergecko (Tarentola angustimentalis) wurde auf der südlichen Halbinsel Jandia auch eine eingeschleppte Population der aus dem Norden Teneriffas stammenden Gallotia galloti eisentrauti nachgewiesen. Dagegen gelang es nicht, den versteckt lebenden und nur in einigen Gebieten der Insel vorkommenden Purpurarienskink (Chalcides simonyi) aufzuspüren.
Zawadzki, M. (2018) -
Während einer Reise Anfang Juni 2011 nach Teneriffa, der größten der Kanarischen Inseln, ergaben sich viele Gelegenheiten, die allgegenwärtige Westkanaren-Eidechse zu beobachten. Die Nominatform Gallotia galloti galloti bewohnt das Zentrum sowie den Süden Teneriffas, während Gallotia galloti eisentrauti im Norden und Nordosten der Insel anzutreffen ist.
Zill, M. (2011) -
Report on an cryptic male Gallotia galloti eisentrauti that showed the typical coloration of a female when it lived together with another male in a terrarium. After this lizard was separated and kept in another terrarium it began to change its colours to the typical male coloration wihtin a period of three weeks.
Zimmermann, H. (1984) -