Blue Gorgon Lizard

The blue Gorgon lizard is a unique reptile in the world due to its bright color; several researchers have gone so far as to say that its color rivals the tone of the sky.

The blue Gorgon lizard is a unique reptile in the world, which has been observed with immense curiosity for many centuries. Perhaps the most striking feature of this reptile is its bright blue color. The first researchers to observe the blue lizard even said its color rivaled the blue of the sky.

This amazing reptile lives only on the island of Gorgona, Colombian territory in the Pacific Ocean. The scientific name is Anolis Gorgonae, but it is also known as the Gorgona blue anole.

The island of Gorgona has had a very interesting history, and its future is uncertain. From 1950 to 1984, Gorgona Island was a high-security Colombian prison. However, it is currently a nature reserve that maintains some endemic species unique in the world. Gorgona has a fragile ecosystem that must be studied and protected.

Blue anoles are very elusive animals, fast and rare to find. For this reason, scientists have not been able to determine the number of specimens currently existing. Researchers know little about the blue-tailed lizard because it lives in an isolated environment and exhibits antisocial behavior.

Characteristics of the blue lizard

The Gorgona blue lizard is a species of scaly reptile in the family Polychrotidae. Morphologically, the blue anole is identical to the Anolis Chloris, or South American chameleon rock of the chocó. As the Anolis chloris is light green and lives in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, they differ only in color.

Blue anoles are medium-sized lizards that can reach an approximate length of five centimeters. It is a totally unique species, so its body is completely blue. Females can be easily differentiated from males, as they have a large, triangular gular sac of light grayish color.

The scales of the blue lizard are incredibly thin with respect to other Latin American lizards. The scales are small even on the ventral side, but slightly larger than on the dorsal side. This distribution of the scales allows to protect the abdomen area from any wound caused by its creeping movement. Unlike the body, the tail has large scales to facilitate movement and stability.

Unlike females, male blue anole are highly territorial individuals. If they feel the presence of other males in their territory, they can attack. Blue-tailed lizards are generally diurnal and nocturnal, especially after the rainy season. Blue anoles ants feed mainly on small insects such as spiders, grasshoppers and crickets.

A rather elusive species

Despite this beautiful species, researchers have encountered many problems when observing blue-tailed lizards in the wild. Although it has a very bright color, the blue anole is a very elusive species and difficult to observe.

Blue lizards are highly observant animals and are alert to any possible threats nearby. A blue anole is not usually shown to large predators. For this reason, researchers have seen very few blue lizards when exploring Gorgon.

In one of Princeton University's most recent investigations, the research group was able to find only seven blue lizard specimens. It is very difficult to draw accurate conclusions about habits and behavioral tendencies of the entire species with such a small sample.

Local experts were unable to reliably determine the total number of blue anoles. However, on the other hand, they are convinced that it is an endangered species. The greatest threat to the blue-tailed lizard is deforestation in its habitat, Gorgona Island. In addition, there is the constant threat of poachers selling the specimens to collectors of curious animals.

During the mating season, males court females by unfolding their gluttony. Little is still known about the exact location where females lay their eggs.

Both the government of Colombia, as well as different research groups and NGOs, are developing conservation plans for the island of Gorgona. The island is home to many endemic species, as well as blue lizards. Thus, declaring Gorgona as a national park is only the first step on the road to environmental protection and conservation.

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