Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

davo · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:07 am Post subject: Herptiles of La Gomera

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... There is a pic of an adult in the day that isn't mine to compare. 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, as it was only the young ones I caught doing it.

Stuart · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:09 am Post subject:

tiny!..nice clear photos though..got any more to share?
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davo · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:14 am Post subject:

of course... your just too keen Laughing

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 · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:15 am Post subject:

same species but darker... (excuse cause it's only 3 pics a post should get a photobucket account or something)

davo · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:16 am Post subject:

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...

davo · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:17 am Post subject:

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

As far as I know there are two remote/inaccessable cliffs they live on... guess I wasn't adventurous enough.

Stuart · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:19 am Post subject:

I was a bit early with my other post!..some great pics mate and see your getting to grips with that d80.How did the trip there last?
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davo · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:28 am Post subject:

lol93 · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:59 am Post subject:

Gorgeous photos! I love the wee wall lizards with the blue splodges!
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mattrethy · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:08 pm Post subject:

GREAT PHOTOS!
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