There are many species on El Hierro that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. But there’s one that the locals are particularly proud of…a giant lizard called the Salmor. It’s the most endangered reptile in Europe.

A long time ago, you could find these leviathan beasts roaming all over the island. Nowadays, unfortunately there is only a handful left. They can only be found in the Tibataje and the Los Roques de Salmor natural reserves.

They were believed to be extinct for many years, up until the mid seventies when a few of them were found in a small area near Valle de Frontera. Once re-discovered, every effort was made by the authorities to continue their future survival.

The Salmor lizard can live for around fifteen years and during this time, they continue to keep growing. This is how they manage to grow up to 60 centimetres and sometimes weigh up to 300 grams!

Their size is quite spectacular. They literally tower over the smaller reptiles, who often quickly disappear when there’s a Salmor around.

During the colder months, the Salmor is quite slow and sluggish. When the warmer months arrive, they feed voraciously on plants and insects in preparation for the mating season.

If you go to the Salmor natural reserves, you can see these fantastic creatures close up in their large reptile tank.