Tenerife Wildlife - Is it all in the wild?
Although Tenerife is only roughly 100 miles from Africa, it has hardly any wild creatures. At least, not on land. The ocean is different. What about all those countless interesting lizards? They are also part of the oldest species of Tenerife wildlife. They have evolved on the biggest of all Canary Islands, since they have made it to shore, 20 million years ago.
Look at this Tenerife lizard of the West Coast. Its Latin name is Galotia Galloti Galloti. Males have a blue belly and females are rather of a mauve brown.It is the type, which I also have seen by the Rambla del Castro of Los Realejos. A friend of mine and I fed the same specie with overripe bananas in Taoro Park in the middle of its residential area. The wildlife of the lizards is not an easy one. Wild stray cats are a great threat. The Galotia lizard of Tenerife is also prominent in the far north, in the Anaga mountains and in nearby Mercedes forests.
A tamed lizard:Or what lizards eat besides fruit.Such a North lizard once found its way onto my neighbors' balcony. This creature, which had lost its tail became tame and ate flies out of my neighbor's hand. Just figure that he hunted for flies for it every morning. The neighbor remembers that the little lizard teeth were rather sharp, while it looked at him like a mini crocodile. Once, it almost bit him. It may have been a cat which had attacked this lizard. Rats are usually not that dangerous for it. They are not fast enough. The Southern Tenerife lizard:
Admire this beautifully freckled lizard of Tenerife in the photo on your right. This one may have been 50cm long, if I remember well. It is a male lizard called Gallotia Intermedia. It may cross your path in the Teno mountain region or by Mount Teide or in its Cañadas. However, we captured this one a further down from Spain's highest peak, while we had drinks in a little outside Bodega Café, which had a rock garden.
This dotted lizard may reach close to one meter in size, where the tail makes up most of it.See how it looks at you in the picture beside, all curious... Its yellow dots seem to glow, while blue also adorns its reptile coat. All Tenerife lizards are wall lizards. I call them rock lizards. You discover them, wherever you walk outdoors near stones and even rubble. It is not easy to catch one on camera, unless it is sun bathing and half asleep. Cobra and lizard wildlife video:See how fast lizards run on their short little legs...
So the main Tenerife untamed animal life consists of wild cats and lizards. If it wasn't for the cats, those reptiles would even be more abundant. You don't only surprise those rock reptiles by volcanic terrain. They quickly slip under a stone or into a crevice to hide. Of course, there are many at Playa Jardin, where a great deal of landscape design ideas were put into practice. This terrain is no absolute virgin ground any more. However, it has many volcanic rocks, and retaining walls. The latter also make it paradise habitat for lizard wildlife. Indigenous goats:
There are many indigenous goats in Tenerife. Most are brown, others are black and white. Some are really big and their babies are simply cute. Without goats milk Tenerife would not have many a prize cheese. Mind, those agile animals who can go, where you can't, often feed on delicate, wild herbs in gorges and remote spots. Are goats part of Tenerife wildlife? Yes, so to speak...Tenerife goats are at home in rough country by ocean or in altitudes. They are the semi wildlife which blocks your path often, when you get a little off the beaten track. They always have right of way. You and your car must always yield. They. too, were already around, when the neolithic Guanches reigned the island. Tenerife wild sea animals:
Tenerife is officially snake free. Meantime, Gran Canaria Island harbors some African intruder snakes. They managed to sneak in on boats. From wildlife to entertainment Tenerife at famous Loro Park with its wild animals behind zoo walls, fences and on show grounds. I almost forgot about my page on reef crabs Puerto de la Cruz by the Muelle jetty. Look at their photos and read on, but be warned, they are not the nicest of creatures... Copy legally...Be welcome to use any photo of this page .... for no commercial use...Right click text in HTML window below... Select, copy and paste into your blog or web. Doing this no copy right offense will be taken.
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