Anegada Iguana
Last modified:
October 21, 2006, 1:20 AM
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Anegada Iguana IUCN Red List ranking: Critically Endangered
 Formerly occurring throughout the Puerto Rican bank, this rare iguana is now restricted to a few tiny islands in the British Virgin Islands, the largest population on Anegada. An ancient lineage, the Anegada iguana is the most genetically unique of the Cyclura (rock iguanas) and is considered basal to the other species.
The native population on Anegada has undergone a serious decline since the 1960s due to pressures from domestic animals and now occupies only a small portion of the island. Feral livestock trample nest sites and severely over-browse native vegetation that iguanas rely on for food, and feral cats kill almost all hatchlings each year. A population of predominantly aging adult iguanas was the result. To overcome this high juvenile mortality, a headstarting program was implemented in 1997 to generate healthy young iguanas for release that are large enough to survive with feral cats. In October 2003, the first group of 24 headstarted iguanas was released on Anegada where there survival, movements and behavior are being monitored, a project funded by the IIF.
Wild population estimates in the BVI range from 200 - 300, but habitat loss from development and overgrazing continues to threaten the Anegada population. Also known as the Stout iguana, this large species can reach a body length of 22 inches (560 mm).
For more detailed species information, please refer to the for Anegada Island Iguana, Cyclura pinguis |
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