Blue Gorgona Lizard
The blue Gorgona lizard is a unique reptile in the world, which has been observed with immense curiosity for many centuries. Perhaps the most impressive feature of this reptile is its brilliant blue color.
Early researchers, upon observing the blue lizard, even said that its hue rivaled the blue of the sky.
This incredible reptile lives only on the island of Gorgona, Colombian territory in the Pacific Ocean. The scientific name of this species is Anolis Gorgonae , although it is also known as Gorgona blue anole.
The island of Gorgona has a very interesting history and its future is uncertain. From 1950 to 1984, it was a Colombian high security prison. However, it is currently a nature reserve that maintains some unique endemic species in the world.
Gorgona maintains a delicate ecosystem that must be studied and protected.
Blue lizards are very elusive animals, fast and rare to find. For this reason, scientists have been unable to determine the number of specimens currently in existence.
Due to its remote habitat and unsophisticated behavior of the blue lizard, researchers know little about this species.
Blue lizard characteristics
The blue Gorgona lizard is a species of scaly reptile that belongs to the Polychrotidae family ,
Morphologically, he is identical to Anolis Chloris , or South American chameleon. The only difference between them is the color: Anolis chloris is bright green and is found throughout the Latin American jungle.
Blue lizards are medium-sized lizards that can reach a length of approximately five centimeters. Their bodies are entirely blue, which is why they are a unique species.
Females can be easily distinguished from males as they have a large grayish triangular pouch.
The blue lizard’s scales are incredibly thin compared to other Latin American lizards. In the belly area, the scales are also small, but slightly larger than on the back.
This distribution of scales allows you to protect the area of the abdomen from any wounds caused by its movement when crawling. Unlike the body, the tail has large scales that allow for easy movement and stability.
Unlike females, males are highly territorial. Upon sensing the presence of other males in their territory, they can attack.
In general, the blue lizard is a species with diurnal habits, especially after the rainy season. The diet of blue lizards consists mainly of spiders, grasshoppers, crickets and other small insects.
an indescribable species
Despite the beauty of this species, researchers had many problems observing the blue lizard in its natural habitat. Even having a very bright color, it is a very elusive species and difficult to be observed.
They are highly observant animals and are alert to any possible nearby threat. The blue lizard is not usually seen by large predators. For this reason, researchers saw very few blue lizards when exploring Gorgona.
In one of the most recent surveys, at Princeton University, the research group was able to find only seven specimens of the blue lizard. It is very difficult to draw precise conclusions about the habits and behavioral tendencies of the entire species with such a small sample.
Is Gorgona Blue Lizard Threatened?
Local experts were not able to know with certainty the total number of the blue lizard population. However, they are convinced that this is an endangered species. The main threat to the blue lizard is the deforestation of its habitat on the island of Gorgona.
In addition, there is the constant threat of poachers who sell specimens to exotic animal collectors.
During the mating season, males court females by showing off their gluttony. Little is known about the choice of mates, and experts still do not know exactly where eggs are laid by the female.
The Colombian government, as well as different research groups and NGOs, are developing conservation plans for the island of Gorgona. This island is not only the habitat of the blue lizard, but of many other unique species in the world.
Therefore, declaring Gorgona a national park is only the first step on the path to protecting and conserving the local environment.
