Discovery of a new lizard in the Canary Islands, with a multivariate analysis of Gallotia (Reptilia: Lacertidae)

Abstract

We describe a new species of Gallotia from Tenerife (Canary Islands). This lizard is intermediate in size between the two smaller (G. atlantica and G. galloti) and the two larger (G. simonyi and G. stehlini) species. Furthermore, it differs from the two similar larger Gallotia in the number of supratemporal scales (mode 4 instead of mode 2), usually 16 longitudinal ventral scalerows, and having distinctive dorsal yellow spots, and small lateral yellow or blue spots. Individuals from a small population located in La Hábiga show a pale gray reticulation on dorsum and absence of ocelli in the lateral region. Univariate and multivariate analyses of nine meristic variables of each extant species within the genus Gallotia revealed significant variation. Principal component analyses support the existence of three main morphological clusters within the genus, the new lizard being nearest to G. simonyi and G. stehlini. Molecular data from mtDNA sequences (cytochrome b and 12S ribosomal RNA) indicate that G. intermedia is closely related to G. simonyi