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Leonese rock lizard

The Leonese rock lizard (Iberolacerta galani), also known as Galan's rock lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is indigenous to Spain.

Geographic range

The species I. galani is endemic to the Montes de León in northwestern Spain.[1]

Etymology

Its specific name, galani, honors the Corunnan herpetologist Dr. Pedro Galán Regalado[2] for his lifelong dedication to the study of the Iberian herpetofauna and natural history in general.[3]

Description

This species, I. galani, is characterized by its relatively large size. It is the biggest species of Iberolacerta with females reaching 84 mm (3.3 in) snout-to-vent length (SVL). It is also characterized by a high number of blue ocelli on the shoulders, and the relatively frequent contact or near-contact between the supranasal and the first loreal scale.[3]

Habitat

The Leonese rock lizard inhabits rocky supraforestal (above the tree line) habitats, at 1,000–2,000 m (3,300–6,600 ft),[1] with a high-mountain climate.[3]

Behavior

As a heliothermic lizard, I.galani relies on basking to regulate its body temperature.Seasonal shifts in thermal preferences have been observed in I. galani, allowing it to maintain effective thermoregulation throughout the year.[4]

Reproduction

I. galani is oviparous.[1][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Arribas, Oscar (2009). "Iberolacerta galani ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T157271A5066930. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T157271A5066930.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Iberolacerta galani, p. 97).
  3. ^ a b c Arribas, Oscar; Carranza, Salvador; Odierna, Gaetano (2006). "Description of a new endemic species of mountain lizard from Northwestern Spain: Iberolacerta galani sp. nov. (Squamata: Lacertidae)". Zootaxa. 1240 (1240): 1–55. doi:10.5281/zenodo.172862.
  4. ^ Ortega, Z., Mencía, A., & Pérez-Mellado, V. (2016). Adaptive seasonal shifts in the thermal preferences of the lizard Iberolacerta galani (Squamata, Lacertidae). Journal of Thermal Biology, 62, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.10.005
  5. ^ Species Iberolacerta galani at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.