Kelly, K., Megía-Palma, R., Dajčman, U., Blázquez-Castro, S., Pie, M.R. and Žagar, A. (2025). Environmental drivers of scale morphology in a Canary Island lizard across 3700 m of elevation. Journal of Zoology, vol. 327, pp. 398-409. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.70072
The Canary Isles are a popular destination for holiday goers and are renowned for their dramatic mountainous landscapes, with the highest peak of Mount Teide rising to 3,700 meters above sea level. Unlike many tourists who travel across the globe, the unassuming wall lizard, Gallotia galloti, can only be found on the Islands of Tenerife and La Palma. Remarkably, these reptiles occupy vast elevation gradients, with populations from the coast all the way up to the peak of Mount Teide while also being found in urban and human environments.
In our study, we aimed to investigate how these lizards are able to inhabit such a drastic elevation gradient. By analysing shed skin collected across 16 locations on Tenerife, we investigated how scale morphology responds to human pressure, macro- and micro-climatic conditions, and UV intensity across 3,700 meters of elevation.
Why Scales Matter
Lizard scales are far more than decoration for attracting mates, but rather they are a part of a highly specialised and adapted organ – the skin. These scales regulate body temperature, reduce water loss, protect against UV rays and injury. Small changes in the shape and size of scales are the difference between species that thrive in hot, dry environments and wetter, cooler ones. Understanding the changes in scale morphology can tell us a lot about local adaptation, resilience and impacts of climate change.
Drivers of Change
Tenerife acts as a perfect location to study changes in climate. At sea level, conditions are hot, dry and highly urbanised, while at higher elevations temperature drops, winds increase, and UV radiation becomes more intense. Lizards that inhabit higher elevations face vastly different challenges than their coastal counterparts, and we can see that their scales reflect this.
This study found that the scales that are more exposed to climatic conditions on their back (dorsal scales) become denser in hotter and windier conditions. Higher density of these scales likely helps to reduce overheating and water loss. Simultaneously, larger dorsal and tail scales were associated with higher solar exposure, pointing toward a protective role from the sun.
Interestingly, the scales on the underside of the lizard (ventral scales) didn’t respond to these climatic variables, but rather, scale density correlated with temperature stability (isothermality), and both size and density were positively linked to human footprint: lizards that were sampled in areas of higher human activity had larger and denser ventral scales. While the functional reason for this pattern is still not fully understood, it suggests that urban environments are creating unique selection pressures that are driving change.
Why This Matters
As climate change accelerates, all species face threats to their environmental thresholds. Climate-dependent island species offer a glimpse into likely futures for many other species, as they are often subjected to environmental changes sooner. This study suggests that these lizards have the capacity to adapt, at least in the short term. But there are also many new questions raised: How much plasticity do they have? What human factors directly contribute to changes in ventral scales? Genetically how are scales changing with climate change and how will this affect species distribution?
Maybe the next time you visit Tenerife and you see one of these charismatic reptiles, remember that those bright blue scales aren’t just for decoration, but are living records of nature’s ability to adapt to change and represent resilience against both natural and human forces.
Kirsten Kelly and Anamarija Žagar
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