2008 Species Range Studies

Conservation zones in the Valle de Aguán, Honduras, considered important to survival of this Critically Endangered endemic iguana
 

Report submitted by Stesha Pasachnik and Edoardo Antunez Pineda

A small adult male Black-chested Spiny-tailed Iguana
A small adult male Black-chested Spiny-tailed Iguana

Melanosterna_Distribution
Edoardo Pineda is excited after “bead tagging” his first Spiny-tailed iguana. Bead tags inserted in the dorsal crest are an effective technique for identifying previously captured iguanas in the field without having to capture them again.
Melanosterna_Distribution
A former iguana hunter (now research volunteer) and government officer from COHDEFOR search through scrub forest for Ctenosaura melanosterna. The skeletons for dead tree cactus provide retreats and hides for this arboreal lizard.
Melanosterna_Distribution
This adult male is retreating to his burrow in a tree cactus.
Melanosterna_Distribution
Stesha Pasachnik (left, University of Tennessee) and Daniel Ariano (right, Zootropic) walking in the National Park Pico Bonito Sur. The large reserve is the only protected area where Ctenosaura melanosterna is found on the mainland, and may represent the stronghold for this heavily hunted species.
Melanosterna_Distribution
Valle de Aguán