Researchers believe that the specimen might be an example of Gallotia goliath, an extinct species of giant lizard species that lived long before humans reached the Canary Islands.

Retired botanist Arnoldo Santos-Guerra stumbled across the remarkably intact lizard fossil two years ago while searching for snail shells.

The 42-pound sandstone block containing the specimen also contained a second lizard—one perhaps smaller or just more juvenile—but in a much worse state of preservation.

The researchers believe that the two lizards may have perished together in a sand dune.

The fact that the larger lizard is so well preserved—with its skeleton in life position rather than scattered in pieces—suggests it likely died and was buried suddenly, protecting it from decay and scavenging.