Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana
Encyclopedia
The Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana (Cyclura cychlura) is a species of lizard
of the genus Cyclura
that is found on the Andros and Exuma
islands in the Bahamas. Its status is Vulnerable, with a wild population of less than 5,000 animals, and it can be found on the IUCN Red List
.
name Cyclura
and specific
name Cychlura are derived from the Ancient Greek
cyclos (κύκλος) meaning "circular" and ourá (οὐρά) meaning "tail", after the thick-ringed tail characteristic of all Cyclura. Its closest relatives are Cyclura nubila
on Cuba
, and Cyclura lewisi on Grand Cayman
. All three apparently diverged from a common ancestor some 3 million years ago.
There are three subspecies of the Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana: the Andros Island Iguana (Cyclura cychlura cychlura
), Allen's Cay Iguana (Cyclura cychlura inornata
), and the Exuma Island Iguana (Cyclura cychlura figginsi
). Biologist Catherine Malone describes C. c. cychlura as being phylogenetically different from C. c. figginisi and C. c. inornata but does not recognize them as separate species; the three are listed as subspecies until further study has been completed.
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
.
As with other Rock Iguanas, their habitat is in rapid decline due to development and logging.
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
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 the Andros and Exuma
Exuma
Exuma is a district of the Bahamas, consisting of over 360 islands . The largest of the cays is Great Exuma, which is 37 mi in length and joined to another island, Little Exuma by a small bridge. The capital and largest city in the district is George Town , founded 1793 and located on Great...
islands in the Bahamas. Its status is Vulnerable, with a wild population of less than 5,000 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 Northern Bahamian Rock 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 Cychlura 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. Its closest relatives are Cyclura nubila
Cyclura nubila
Cyclura nubila, also known as the Cuban rock iguana, Cuban ground iguana, or Cuban iguana, is a species of lizard of the iguana family. It is the largest of the West Indian rock iguanas , one of the most endangered groups of lizards...
on Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and Cyclura lewisi on Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the nation's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles southwest of Cayman Brac.-Geography:Grand Cayman encompasses 76% of...
. All three apparently diverged from a common ancestor some 3 million years ago.
There are three subspecies of the Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana: 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...
), 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...
). Biologist Catherine Malone describes C. c. cychlura as being phylogenetically different from C. c. figginisi and C. c. inornata but does not recognize them as separate species; the three are listed as subspecies until further study has been completed.
Anatomy and morphology
Male Northern Bahamian Rock Iguanas, like other species within the Genus Cyclura, are larger than females and have more prominent dorsalDorsum (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 Northern Bahamian Rock 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.Status
It is estimated that the current global population of all three subspecies is less than 5,000 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.