Mona Island Iguana

(Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri)

IUCN Red List ranking: Endangered

Closely related to the Rhinoceros iguana from nearby Hispaniola, and bearing the same characteristic facial adornments, the Mona Island iguana is restricted to one tiny island lying midway between Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.  Part of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Mona Island is a protected natural reserve that receives funding from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Population numbers have been reliably estimated at 1,500, which are considered abnormally small, with far lower densities than similar iguana-inhabited islands. Also disturbing is the fact that immature iguanas are scarce and represent only 5 - 10% of the population, indicating that the population is aging and declining.  This is owing to the presence of introduced exotic species.  Feral pigs root up iguana nests, and cat predation is a serious threat to young iguanas, hence juvenile recruitment is very low.  Current conservation measures include the construction of pig exclosure fences around known coastal nesting sites and an active headstarting program.

For more detailed species information, please refer to the IUCN-ISG Taxonomic Account for Mona Island Iguana, Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri