Critically Endangered Haiti lizard gives birth to 12 young in the UK

The galliwasp is critically endangered

December 2011: The Animal Zone, at South Staffordshire College, has welcomed the birth of Haitian galliwasps, a small skink-like lizard. The female had been noted to be heavily pregnant for several weeks and she surprised keepers by giving birth, several days early.

The baby galliwasps are very small at birth, weighing between 1 and 2 grams, and, like their parents, burrowing down in their substrate and resurfacing to bask and for feeding. Their diet consists of small crickets and a specially prepared mince. They are housed individually so they grow uniformly and there is no food competition with the parents.


Breeding programmes are vital to the lizard's survival
The decline and fragmentation of the galliwasp's habitat is one of the main factors in the population decline and breeding programmes, such as the one at South Staffordshire College, are vital to the lizard's future.

Several months ago the college installed night vision cameras above the galliwasp enclosure, as part of a student project investigating their feeding behaviours. This footage allowed staff and students an extra insight into the night behaviours of these secretive animals.

Senior keeper Emmeline Cureton was then able to monitor the expectant mothers' growth and ensure she was getting equal access to food.

Emmeline said: ‘We are very pleased. These are the first Haitian galliwasps to be bred at South Staffordshire College and they are in good health. It is hoped that the youngsters will join galliwasps at other animal collections, where the pool of knowledge on this valued species can be expanded further.'

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/haitian-galliwasp.html