Cyclura cychlura cychlura
Encyclopedia
The Andros Island Iguana (Cyclura cychlura cychlura) is an endangered subspecies of Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana
of the genus Cyclura
that is found on Andros Island on the western edge of the Grand Bahama Bank. Its status is Endangered, with a wild population of 3,500 animals, and it can be found on the IUCN Red List
.
name (Cyclura
) and specific
name are derived from the Ancient Greek
cyclos (κύκλος) meaning "circular" and ourá (οὐρά) meaning "tail", after the thick-ringed tail characteristic of all Cyclura.
It is one of three subspecies of the Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana
; the other two subspecies being Allen's Cay iguana (Cyclura cychlura inornata)
and the Exuma Island iguana
(Cyclura cychlura figginsi
).
Male Andros island iguanas, like other species within the Genus Cyclura, are larger than females and have more prominent dorsal
crests in addition to femoral
pores on their thighs, which are used to release pheromones. Females lack these pores and have shorter crests than the males making the animals sexually dimorphic
.
The newly-hatched iguanas disperse away from the nest site for the first two or three weeks. During the first week, the hatchlings are vulnerable to predation by snakes; less than one-third of hatchlings survive their first month.
As with other Rock Iguanas, their habitat is in rapid decline due to development and logging.
There are currently no captive breeding programs for this animal.
Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana
The Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana is a species of lizard of the genus Cyclura that is found on the Andros and Exuma islands in the Bahamas...
of the genus Cyclura
Cyclura
Cyclura is a genus of lizards from the family Iguanidae. Members of this genus are known as "cyclurids" or more commonly as rock iguanas and only occur on islands in the West Indies...
that is found on Andros Island on the western edge of the Grand Bahama Bank. Its status is Endangered, with a wild population of 3,500 animals, and it can be found on the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
.
Taxonomy
The Andros Island iguana, Cyclura cychlura cychlura, is endemic to the island of Andros. The Andros iguana's genericGenus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
name (Cyclura
Cyclura
Cyclura is a genus of lizards from the family Iguanidae. Members of this genus are known as "cyclurids" or more commonly as rock iguanas and only occur on islands in the West Indies...
) and specific
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
name are derived from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
cyclos (κύκλος) meaning "circular" and ourá (οὐρά) meaning "tail", after the thick-ringed tail characteristic of all Cyclura.
It is one of three subspecies of the Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana
Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana
The Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana is a species of lizard of the genus Cyclura that is found on the Andros and Exuma islands in the Bahamas...
; the other two subspecies being Allen's Cay iguana (Cyclura cychlura inornata)
Cyclura cychlura inornata
The Allen Cays Rock Iguana is an endangered subspecies of the Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana that is found on Allen Cay in the Bahamas...
and the Exuma Island iguana
(Cyclura cychlura figginsi
Cyclura cychlura figginsi
Cyclura cychlura figginsi, commonly known as the Exuma Island Iguana, is a critically endangered subspecies of Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana that is found on the Exuma island chain in the Bahamas with a wild population of 1,300 animals, it is listed on the IUCN Red List.-Taxonomy:The Exuma Island...
).
Anatomy and morphology
The Andros island iguana is one of the largest species of rock iguana which attains a total length of close to 1.5 meters. Its coloration is dark-gray to black, with yellowish green or orange tinged scales on the legs, dorsal crest, and the head. When the animal matures, the yellow coloration changes to a bright reddish orange color in contrast to the animals darker striped body and black feet.Male Andros island iguanas, like other species within the Genus Cyclura, are larger than females and have more prominent dorsal
Dorsum (biology)
In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...
crests in addition to femoral
Femoral
Femoral can refer to:* Femoral artery* Femoral vein* Femur* Femoral triangle* Femoral nerve...
pores on their thighs, which are used to release pheromones. Females lack these pores and have shorter crests than the males making the animals sexually dimorphic
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
.
Diet
Like all Cyclura species the Andros Island Iguana is primarily herbivorous, consuming leaves, flowers and fruits from over 100 different plant species. This diet is very rarely supplemented with insect larvae, crabs, slugs, dead birds and fungi.Reproduction
Mating occurs from early April to early May, with eggs deposited in nests excavated within termite mounds (Nasutitermes rippertii). This is the only species of iguana known to use termite mounds as a means of incubating its eggs. Females are known to guard their nests until hatching occurs.The newly-hatched iguanas disperse away from the nest site for the first two or three weeks. During the first week, the hatchlings are vulnerable to predation by snakes; less than one-third of hatchlings survive their first month.
Endangered Status
It is estimated that the current global population is less than 3,500 members and is declining. The population has decreased by at least 50% over the last 60 years.Causes of decline
Hunting is the main factor threatening imminent extinction for this iguana. It is the only Caribbean species of iguana which is still regularly hunted for food for human consumption. Feral pigs pose a threat to the iguanas, as they dig up eggs from iguana nests within termite mounds. Feral and domestic dogs prey upon juvenile and adult iguanas as well. Feral goats have also been known to compete with the iguanas for food.As with other Rock Iguanas, their habitat is in rapid decline due to development and logging.
Recovery efforts
Like all Bahamian rock iguanas, this species is protected in the Bahamas under the Wild Animals Protection Act of 1968. However, no areas have been specifically designated for the protection of iguanas on Andros and no specific conservation programs are in place.There are currently no captive breeding programs for this animal.