Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp
Celestus anelpistus
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.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribicus_anelpistus
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Squamata
Family
Diploglossidae
Genus
Celestus
Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp belongs to the family Diploglossidae, order unknown, within the Squamata class.
Species Profile
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.
Key Facts
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
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.
Agricultural expansion
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat loss and deforestation
Small population size and restricted range
Urban development
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Giant Hispaniolan Galliwasp (Celestus anelpistus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/giant-hispaniolan-galliwasp