Scientific Name: Iguana delicatissima

IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

Description: Blockier than the green iguana and without the green iguana’s distinctive striping and round scale below the ear hole, the Lesser Antillean Iguana or West Indies Iguana varies in color among the populations but tends to be gray with green splotching on the underside.  They will have pale, ivory scales on their heads and the jowls of the males are pink with blue scales around their eyes.  Females are smaller than males by approximately a third.  Males may reach 32 in in length including tail, when grown.

Distribution:  Numerous islands in the Lesser Antilles

Habitat: Scrub woodland and mangrove with sandy areas for nesting.

West Indian iguanas are among the most endangered lizards in the world, primarily because much of the tropical dry forest they inhabit has been eliminated by human development or severely degraded by exotic species.  Feral predators such as mongooses, cats, and dogs prey heavily on juvenile iguanas, and on many islands, introduced livestock have denuded the vegetation on which iguanas depend.  Until the arrival of man and domestic livestock, iguanas were the largest native land animals on these islands.

The future protection of these magnificent species can be furthered by your donation.

Please click here to make a contribution to the IIF and help save this species and others from extinction.