Mona ground iguana
Mona ground iguana | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Iguania |
Family: | Iguanidae |
Genus: | Cyclura |
Species: | C. stejnegeri
|
Binomial name | |
Cyclura stejnegeri Noble , 1916 | |
Synonyms | |
Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri ( |
The Mona ground iguana (Cyclura stejnegeri) is a critically endangered species of
Taxonomy
The Mona ground iguana belongs to the genus
In 1993 Robert Powell suggested that all three subspecies of the rhinoceros iguana could be seen as distinct species, if the word "species" was redefined to mean any population which was separated from another population. Although it does not appear to be distinct from the nominotypical subspecies morphologically, in a 1999 article, Powell again recommended recognizing this population as a different species, based on what he had said in 1993.[4] Some authorities have decided to follow Powell.[6][7] Still, others consider it a regional variant of the parent species, C. cornuta.
Description
The Mona ground iguana is a large-bodied, heavy-headed lizard with strong legs and a vertically flattened tail, which is capable of reaching 1.22 m (4 ft 0 in) in length (from
Males possess bony, prominent tubercles on their snouts resembling horns, adipose pads in the form of a helmet on the
Habitat
Mona ground iguanas are
Reproduction
Although Mona ground iguanas use the whole island as their habitat, only 1% of the territory, located on the southwest coast, is suitable for nesting because it contains loose sand, and receives direct sunlight. The females bury their eggs in the sand, and the sunlight incubates the eggs. Males reach sexual maturity at a size of 28–31 cm (11–12 in) in length from snout to vent, usually in their third to fourth year, while females mature one year later at a size of 35–40 cm (14–16 in).
Nesting season begins in the second week of June. Usually, one female mates with more than one male in the two weeks the
Diet
Mona ground iguanas, like most Cyclura species, are primarily
Endangered status
Population numbers are estimated at 1,500 with lower densities than similar iguana-inhabited islands in the West Indies. Immature iguanas are scarce and represent only 5–10% of the population, revealing that the population is aging and in decline.[17]
Reasons for decline
The biggest threat to C. stejnegeri are invasive species; feral pigs pose the most serious threat, as they root up iguana nests, and like most Cyclura species, the Mona ground iguana nests communally and at high density.[13][17] Introduced goats and pigs are a major competitor for food and overbrowsing by goats also leads to loss of protective cover from birds of prey such as the osprey and predation of juveniles by feral cats.[13][17]
Recovery efforts
A
See also
- Fauna of Puerto Rico
- List of amphibians and reptiles of Puerto Rico
- List of endemic fauna of Puerto Rico
References
- . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ Barbour, Thomas & Noble, G. Kingsley (1916). "A revision of the lizards of the genus Cyclura". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. 60 (4): 139–164.
- ^ a b c d e f Powell, Robert (1999), "Herpetology of Navassa Island, West Indies" (PDF), Caribbean Journal of Science, 35 (1–2): 1–13, archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2011, retrieved 2007-09-09
- ^ Stejneger, Leonhard (1902), The Herpetology of Porto Rico, New York: Rept. U.S. Nat. Mus, pp. 549–724
- ^ "Cyclura stejnegeri Barbour and Noble, 1916", Integrated Taxonomic Information System, 2001, retrieved 2007-10-16
- ^ "Cyclura stejnegeri". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- ^ Rivero, J.A. 1978. Los anfibios y reptiles de Puerto Rico. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Editorial Universitaria, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. 152p. 49 plates. (in Spanish)
- ^ a b c Wiewandt, Thomas A. (1977). Ecology, behavior, and management of the Mona Island ground iguana Cyclura stejnegeri (Ph.D.). Cornell University.
- ISBN 978-1-882770-18-2
- ISBN 978-0-520-23854-1
- ISBN 978-0-520-23854-1
- ^ a b c Byrd, Dan; Byrd, Sylvia (1996), "The Rhinoceros Iguanas of Mona Island", Reptiles: Guide to Keeping Reptiles and Amphibians, 4 (1): 24–27
- ^ Derr, Mark (2000-10-10), "In Caribbean, Endangered Iguanas Get Their Day", New York Times Science Section
- ^ ISBN 978-0-520-23854-1
- ^ Powell, Robert (8 January 2000), "Horned Iguanas of the Caribbean", Reptile and Amphibian Hobbyist, 5 (12)
- ^ ISBN 978-0-520-23854-1
- ^ Perez-Buitrago, Nestor (2005), "Successful Release of Head Start Mona Island Iguanas" (PDF), Iguana Specialist Group Newsletter, 8 (1): 6, archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-08-12