Ancient Giant Lizard Fossil ‘Guanchito’: Preserving Canarian Biodiversity for the Future

The remains of two enormous reptiles from Tenerife, locked in an embrace of death, have emerged as a significant find in the natural history of the Canary Islands. These reptiles, comparable in size to a small cat, met their demise within a volcanic cavern and have now been unearthed 650,000 years later by a team of archaeologists from the University of La Laguna (ULL). This extraordinary fossil not only provides insights into the past inhabitants of the Islands but also paves the way for the development of more effective strategies for preserving the existing flora and fauna amidst challenges such as human impact, invasive species, and climate change that are posing threats to the diverse biodiversity of the Archipelago. This discovery underscores the importance, in the view of experts, of enhancing the conservation efforts for the paleontological heritage of the Islands.