Cyclura cychlura inornata
Encyclopedia
The Allen Cays Rock Iguana (Cyclura cychlura inornata) is an endangered subspecies of the Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana
that is found on Allen Cay in the Bahamas
. Its status is Endangered, with a wild population of 1,000 animals, and it can be found on the IUCN Red List
.
, the others being the Andros Island Iguana (Cyclura cychlura cychlura
) and the Exuma Island Iguana (Cyclura cychlura figginsi
). Its generic
name (Cyclura
) is derived from the Ancient Greek
cyclos (κύκλος) meaning "circular" and ourá (οὐρά) meaning "tail", after the thick-ringed tail characteristic of all Cyclura species.
Males of this species, like other species within the Genus Cyclura, are larger than females, and have more prominent dorsal
crests in addition to prominent femoral pore
s on their thighs, which are used to release pheromones. Females have less prominent pores and have shorter crests than the males making the animals sexually dimorphic
.
Outside of the mating season, the iguanas have dominance hierarchies rather than strictly defended territories like cyclura from other islands. This has been attributed to the regular food supply from tourists feeding the lizards on the beach causing a disruption in their social structure.
There is currently a captive breeding program in place at the Ardastra Zoo.
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...
that is found on Allen Cay in the Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
. Its status is Endangered, with a wild population of 1,000 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 Allen Cays iguana, Cyclura cychlura inornata, is endemic to Leaf Cay and Southwest Allen's Cay in the northern Exuma Island chain in the Bahamas. It is one of three subspecies of the Northern Bahamian Rock IguanaNorthern 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 others being the Andros Island Iguana (Cyclura cychlura cychlura
Cyclura cychlura cychlura
The Andros Island Iguana 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...
) 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...
). Its generic
Genus
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...
) is 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 species.
Anatomy and morphology
The Allen Cays iguana is a large 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.Males of this species, 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 prominent femoral pore
Femoral pore
Femoral pores are a part of a holocrine secretory gland found on the inside of the thighs of certain lizards and amphisbaenians which releases pheromones to attract mates or mark territory. In certain species only the male has these pores and in other species, both sexes have them, with the males...
s on their thighs, which are used to release pheromones. Females have less prominent 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 Allen Cays iguana is primarily herbivorous, consuming leaves, flowers and fruits from close to 13 different species of plant found on the cay. This diet is supplemented by eating crustaceans such as crab and handouts from tourists from sandwiches to table scraps and whatever else tourists to the islands bring. This has also caused the iguanas to lose their fear of humans and in some cases become aggressive.Mating
Mating occurs in May, and eggs are usually laid in June or July, in nests excavated within sandy soil on Leaf Cay and U Cay. Due to lack of sand on the honeycomb limestone beaches on Allen's Cay, iguanas have not bred there for many years.Outside of the mating season, the iguanas have dominance hierarchies rather than strictly defended territories like cyclura from other islands. This has been attributed to the regular food supply from tourists feeding the lizards on the beach causing a disruption in their social structure.
Endangered status
It is estimated that the current global population is less than 1,000 and is declining.Causes of decline
The biggest threat to the Allen Cays iguana is in the form of poaching. The animals are hunted for food and captured for sale in the pet trade.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 and no specific conservation programs are in place.There is currently a captive breeding program in place at the Ardastra Zoo.