Lagartario

Primarily lizards and frogs are the fauna that populates the island of El Hierro. Among the most common lizards are the so-called Tarentola Boettgerio, it is a type of geko endemic to the island. This small lizard can reach 35 centimeters in length.

But without a doubt the type of lizard that should be highlighted on the island is the so-called Giant Lizard with the scientific name of G allotia Simonyi subspecies, declared the most threatened reptile in Europe and among the 5 most endangered in the world. Such is his threat that until 1974 it was thought that it had been extinguished when a shepherd found specimens in the Fuga de la Gorreta located in the Valle del Gofio, after the order of the German Werner Bings.

Following the finding, a plan was reintroduced of this species in a controlled way in some points where remains of its existence were found. Hence, within the Ecomuseum of Guinea there is the Recovery Center of the Giant Lizard of El Hierro where you can find out the work that is being done by the team responsible for this plan and see the specimens that live in the center.

The giant lizard, which has been protected since 1975, can reach a length of 75 cm in length. It is quite robust and of pardonegrusco color with yellow lateral ocelli and has a long and thin tail, bases its feeding on insects and plants. The breeding season of the reptile is in May, a month later it deposits about 12 eggs in its nest, from which the offspring will be born 8 weeks later.

All the information about the El Hierro Giant Lizard can be found in this protection center, you can see how this endemic species of the Island is raised in captivity, which is indisputably one of the symbols of the island.