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

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. Furtherm ore, it differs from the two similar larger Gallotia in the number of supra temporal scales (mode 4 instead of mode 2), usually 16 longitudinal ventral scale rows, and having distinctive dorsal yellow spots, and small lateral yellow or blue spots. Individuals from a small population located in La Hab iga show a pale gray reticulation on dorsum and absence of ocelli in the la teral region. Univariate and multivariate analyses of nine meristic variabl es of each extant species within the genus Gallotia revealed significant va riation. Principal component analyses support the existence of three main m orphological clusters within the genus, the new lizard being nearest to G. simonyi and C. stehlini. Molecular data from mtDNA sequences (cytochrome b and 12S ribosomal RNA) indicate that G. intermedia is closely related to G. simonyi.