Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp
CR

Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp

Celestus anelpistus

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribicus_anelpistus

Overview

Caribicus anelpistus, the Altagracia giant galliwasp, is a species of lizard of the Diploglossidae family endemic to the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.

The Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp faces severe threats primarily from extensive habitat destruction due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urban development across its limited range in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The species' already restricted distribution makes it extremely vulnerable to these ongoing habitat pressures, with remaining forest fragments becoming increasingly isolated and degraded.

Threat summary

Other threatened species in Diploglossidae

EN

Serpentine Four-toed Galliwasp

Celestus agasepsoides

Unknown
Darlington's GalliwaspEN

Darlington's Galliwasp

Celestus darlingtoni

Unknown
EN

Hispaniolan Earless Galliwasp

Celestus haetianus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp classified as Critically Endangered?
Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp faces severe threats primarily from extensive habitat destruction due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urban development across its limited range in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The species' already restricted distribution makes it extremely vulnerable to these ongoing habitat pressures, with remaining forest fragments becoming increasingly isolated and degraded.
Where does Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp live?
Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp?
The main threats to Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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