Scientific Name: Cyclura pinguis
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
Description: The Anegada iguana is relatively large and stout iguana. Males have been measured at almost 2 feet in length from snout to vent (not including tail length). Adults are grayish or brownish color overall with a blue color on spines, tail, and legs. Blue tones are often more evident in males and can vary depending on the individual. Juveniles have gray to green banding or diamond shaped patterns that fade as the animal matures.
Distribution: Although this species used to occupy islands across the entire Puerto Rico Bank, it is now restricted to the island of Anegada in the British Virgin Islands. A small population of 8 adults was re-introduced to Guana Island and has begun to successfully reproduce. 3 offspring from the Guana Island population have been translocated to Necker Island.
Habitat: This species uses both limestone, which provides a natural retreat, and sandy areas adjacent to limestone in which they excavate burrows. Female iguanas also nest in sandy areas. Iguana habitat on Anegada has been degraded by the presence of free-ranging livestock.
Reproduction: Females lay one clutch of 12-16 eggs per year. Although there is a relatively high rate of hatching success, very few hatchlings survive after emerging from nests due to extremely high predation from feral cats. Recruitment into the breeding population is low and ratios of males to females have fallen from 1:1 to 1females:2males.
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 predation, habitat loss from development, and overgrazing continue to threaten the Anegada population.
For information on conservation, management, and how the IIF is working to save this species, please see the projects section.
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For more detailed species information, please refer to the IUCN-ISG Taxonomic Accountfor the Anegada Island Iguana, Cyclura pinguis.
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